GIFT   OF 
ADELLE  MASSON 


UNIVERSITY  FARM 


#'KUM  Ofh'lUfcJ 


CONGRESSMAN  A-  M.  FREE 


8th   DIBT,   QAUJPOEIU 


STATUE  OF  COMTE  DE  ROCHAMBEAU 
From  the  Southeast 


MONUMENT  OF  ROCHAMBEAU 
From  the  southeast 


ROCHAMBEAU 


A  COMMEMORATION  by  the  CONGRESS 
of  the  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA  of 
the  SERVICES  of  the  FRENCH  AUXILIARY 
FORCES  in  tne  WAR  OF  INDEPENDENCE 


Prepared  by  authority  of  Congress  under  direction  of 
the  Joint  Committee  on  the  Library 

By 
DEB.  RANDOLPH  KEIM 

Life  Member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Historical  Society 


"I  join  to  this  letter  a  copy  of  my  instructions  and  even  of  my 
secret  instructions  also,  as  I  do  not  choose  to  have  any  secrets  with 
my  general."  (Letter  Count  de  Rochambeau  to  General  Wash 
ington  upon  the  arrival  of  the  French  Allies  at  Newport,  R.I.) 


WASHINGTON  :  :  GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE  :  :  1907 


n 


AUTHORITY  TO  PRINT 

[Fifty-eighth  Congress,  first  session.] 

1903,  NOVEMBER  n.— Mr.  WETMORE,  of  Rhode  Island,  submitted  to  the 
Senate  a  concurrent  resolution  for  printing  and  binding  the  proceed 
ings  upon  the  unveiling  of  the  statue  of  the  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU, 
which  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Printing. 
[Fifty-eighth  Congress,  second  session.] 

1903,  DECEMBER  4. — Mr.  Pi,ATT,  of  New  York,  reported  the  concurrent 
resolution  favorably  with  amendments.    The  amendments  were  agreed 
to  and  the  concurrent  resolution  as  amended  was  agreed  to. 

1904,  JANUARY  26. — Mr.  CHARGES  B.  LANDIS,  of  Indiana,  from  the  House 
Committee  on   Printing,  reported  the   concurrent  resolution.     The 
concurrent  resolution  as  amended  was'  agreed  to. 

1904,  FEBRUARY  2. — The  PRESIDENT  PRO  TEMPORE  laid  before  the  Sen 
ate  the  amendments  of  the  House  of  Representatives  to  Senate  Con 
current  Resolution  No.  4    *    *    *    so  as  to  make  the  concurrent 
resolution  read: 

Resolved  by  the  Senate  (the  House  of  Representatives  concurring},  That  there  be  printed, 
and  bound  in  the  form  such  as  is  customary  in  the  case  of  eulogies,  with  accompanying 
illustrations,  ten  thousand  copies  of  the  proceedings  upon  the  unveiling  of  the  statue 
of  the  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  of  which  two  thousand  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the 
Senate,  seven  thousand  for  the  use  of  the  Hoxise  of  Representatives,  five  hundred  to  be 
delivered  to  the  ambassador  of  the  Republic  of  France,  for  such  distribution  as  he  shall 
think  fit,  the  remaining  five  hundred  of  which  two  hundred  shall  be  bound  in  full 
Morocco,  to  be  distributed,  under  the  direction  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Joint  Committee 
on  the  library,  to  the  guests  invited  from  the  French  Republic  and  the  speakers  who 
took  part  in  said  celebration. 

Mr.  PLATT  moved  concurrence  in  the  amendments  of  the  House  of 
Representatives.  The  motion  was  agreed  to. 

[Fifty-ninth  Congress,  first  session.] 

1905,  DECEMBER  13.— Mr.  WETMORE,  of  Rhode  Island,  submitted  to  the 
Senate  the  following  concurrent  resolution : 

Resolved  by  the  Senate  (the+House  of  Representatives  concurring},  That  the  concurrent 
resolution  passed  February  2,  1904,  providing  for  the  publication  of  the  proceedings  on 
the  occasion  of  the  unveiling  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  statue  is  hereby  continued  in  force 
and  excepted  from  the  limitation  of  one  year  as  provided  in  section  80  of  the  act  of 
January  12,  1895,  providing  for  the  public  printing  and  binding  and  the  distribution 
of  public  documents. 

1906,  JANUARY  25.— Mr.  PI<ATT  of  New  York,   from  the  Committee  on 
Printing,  reported  the  same,  which  was  agreed  to. 

1906,  APRII,  7. — Mr.  LANDIS,  of  Indiana,  from  the  Committee  on  Printing 
of  the  House  of  Representatives,  asked  unanimous  consent  and  the 
concurrent  resolution  was  agreed  to.     (See  text  above.) 
2 


CONTENTS 


PREFATORY  :  page. 

General  comment 5 

Introduction n 

I.  PREPARATORY  : 

Legislation 15 

Commission 23 

II.  COMMEMORATIVE  : 

Salutatory 49 

Dedicatory 75 

Itinerary       .     .     .    : .     . 135 

III.  RETROSPECTIVE: 

The  Alliance 226 

The  States 227 

La  France 228 

D'Estaing  Expeditionary 229 

Auxiliary — 

De  Rochambeau 261 

DeTernay 276 

DeGrasse  CoopeVant 423 

IV.  CONTRIBUTORY  : 

A  Character  sketch:  Rochambeau 502 

Man  of  the  emergency. 

Soldier  of  relief. 

Friend  of  liberty. 

Companion  of  the  Chief. 
Comrades  in  arms 504 

Men  of  the  sword. 

Men  of  the  musket. 
V.  IN  LITERATURE,  Retold  by  the  pen 607 

1778     In  the  name  of  the  King  1783 

A  la  gloire  de  France 

1902     By  the  Government  and  people     1902 

3 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 
Rochanibeau  monument  from  southeast  ...........  t  ........   Frontispiece. 

Arms  and  bookplate  of  Rochanibeau  .....  .........  .  ..............  14 

Members  of  the  Congressional  Commission  .......................  15 

M.  Jules  Bceufve,  chancellor  French  embassy  at  Washington  ......  20 

M.  Delcasse,  minister  of  foreign  affairs,  France  ...................  31 

Site  of  the  Rochanibeau  monument,  Lafayette  Park  ..............  35 

Rochambeau  monument  from  the  southwest  ......................  37 

M.  Fernand  Hamar,  sculptor  ....................................  39 

Rochambeau  (Rene)  Comte  de,  representing  the  Rochambeau 

family  ........................................................  43 

Lafayette,  Paul  Marie  Joseph  de  Pourqet  de  Sahune  Du  Mottier, 

Comte  de,  representing  the  La  Fayette  family  ..................  45 

Le  Cuirasse  d'Escadre  Le  Gaulois  .......  .........................  49 

President's  commission  .........................................  53 

Lieut.  Col.  Meaux  Saint  Marc,  aid  de  camp  and  personal  represent 

ative  of  the  President  of  France  .........  .....................  55 

Members  of  the  Rochambeau  mission,  by  Falk,  New  York  ........  59 

Arms  of  the  United  States  and  France  ...........................  59 

Vice-  Admiral  Fournier  ..........................................  65 

Theodore  Roosevelt,  President  of  the  United  States  (unveiling)  ...  75 

Stands  occupied  during  the  unveiling  ............................  80 

General  view  of  the  scene  of  unveiling  (assembly)  ................  82 

Emile  Loubet,  President  of  France  ...................  .•  ..........  88 

Comtesse  de  Rochambeau  .....................  .  .................  89 

M.  Jules  Cambon,  French  ambassador  to  the  United  States.  _.  ......  90 

Gen.  Horace  Porter,  American  ambassador  to  France  .............  94 

Henry  Cabot  Lodge,  Senator  from  Massachusetts  .................  96 

General  Brugere,  chief  of  the  Rochambeau  mission  ...............  103 

General  Chalendar  ..............................................  108 

French  and  American  seamen  and  American  troops  in  review  .....  no 

Art  in  Good  Will,  presented  by  the  Government  of  France  ........  120 

Comte  d'Estaing  ...................................  .  ...........  227 

French  troops  (uniforms)  ................  .......................  421 

Comte  de  Grasse  ....................................  ............  425 

Rochanibeau  and  staff,  Yorktown,  Va.,  Trumbull  .................  436 

Plan  of  Yorktown  circumvallations  and  troops  ...............  .....  439 

Washington,  Rochambeau,  and  Lafayette  in  the  trenches-  .......  .  .   -  447 

Surrender  of  the  British  Army  at  Yorktown,  Va  ..................  453 

Rochambeau  as  marshal  of  France  ..............................  517 

Chateau  de  Rochambeau  at  There"  near  Vendome  .................  519 

Chateau  de  Rochambeau,  facade  toward  the  Loire  .................  519 

Apartment  in  which  Marshal  de  Rochambeau  died  ................  526 

Tomb  of  Marshal  de  Rochambeau  near  Thore,  Vendome  ..........  528 

4 


PREFATORY 

* 

In  delving  into  the  chronicles  of  the  military  and  naval  succor 
sent  to  the  American  States  under  the  terms  of  the  treaty  of 
alliance  of  1778,  of  the  many  thoughts  which  rise  inquisitively, 
not  the  least  difficult  to  meet  concerns  the  subsidiary  place 
accorded  by  the  writers  of  United  States  history  to  France  at 
that  momentous  crisis  in  the  struggle  of  the  British  colonies 
of  North  America  for  the  sovereignty  of  the  citizen  and  the 
autonomy  of  the  state. 

It  is  indeed  painful  to  contemplate  in  this  era  of  primacy  in 
the  family  of  nations  the  devoted  Washington  bearing  the  bur 
dens  of  a  friendless  cause  and  an  impoverished  people. 

In  the  evolutiofa  of  the  tragedy  imminently  confronting  him 
he  vows,  rather  than  yield,  to  retreat  beyond  the  Susquehanna 
with  the  remnant  of  his  army  and  there  continue  the  struggle. 

At  this  crisis  does  France  come  upon  the  scene.  Hope 
revives;  the  conflict  is  renewed;  victory  is  assured. 

The  following  pages  will  doubtless  figure  in  the  nature  of  a 
surprise  to  those  otherwise  widely  read,  and  a  wonder  to  the 
many,  not  so  well  informed  on  Franco- American  lines,  consid 
ering  how  little  has  been  done  in  the  past  to  keep  aglow  the 
sense  of  grateful  remembrance  of  the  helping  hand  from  across 
the  sea. 

In  respect  to  the  historical  features  of  the  work,  the  sources 
of  original  information  in  our  own  tongue  were  limited  almost 
wholly  to  the  correspondence  of  Washington;  parliamentary 
procedure  and  enactments  of  Congress  to  meet  certain  conditions, 
requirements,  and  emergencies ;  the  contemporary  press,  Whig 
and  Tory;  military  reports  incidentally,  and  allusions  in  individ 
ual  memoires;  the  contemporary  historians  apparently  failing  to 

5 


6  Prefatory 

fully  appreciate  the  extent  of  the  service  rendered  by  France 
and  the  timeliness  of  its  occurrence. 

This  fact  is  sustained  by  Mr.  Thomas  Balch  in  his  carefully 
collated  and  arranged  work  "Les  Francais  en  Amerique 
pendant  la  Guerre  de  1'Independance  des  fitats-Unis. " 

His  chief  object,  he  tells  us  from  Paris,  in  undertaking  this 
valuable  contribution  to*  the  American  literature  of  the  war  of 
Independence  was  to  correct  this  flaw. 

The  "  Magazine  of  American  History"  is  also  entitled  to 
recognition  for  much  original  and  edited  information. 

In  French  the  supply  of  data  is  large,  especially  the 
admirable  compilations  of  Donoilr-"The  List  of  Ships  and 
Crews  and  Rosters  of  Regiments  and  Men  that  Served  in 
America;"  writings  of  D'Estaing,  Chastellux,  Noailles,  and 
publications  of  other  actors  in  the  scenes. 

As  a  fountain  source,  must  be  mentioned  the  interesting  and 
valuable  "Memoires  Militaires,  Historiques  et  Politiques  de 
ROCHAMBEAU,  Ancien  Marechal  de  France  et  Grand  Officier  de 
la  Legion  d'Honneur."  Paris,  MDCCCIX.  The  two  volumes 
cover  the  life  of  the  gallant  soldier  through  its  long  and  varied 
experiences  in  two  great  nation-building  wars — one  lasting: 
seven  years  against  Frederick  the  Great,  resulting  in  the 
foundation  of  the  Prussian  monarchy;  the  other  against  Eng 
land  in  America  two  and  one-half  years,  terminating  in  the 
birth  of  the  United  States  of  America.  Also  the  manuscript 
papers  of  Count  DK  ROCHAMBEAU,  purchased  by  the  United 
States  Government,  in  the  archives  of  the  Library  of  Congress. 

In  the  immediate  prosecution  of  the  work  most  valuable  aid 
was  had  from  Mr.  George  Peabody  Wetmore,  Senator  from 
Rhode  Island,  chairman  of  the  Joint  Committee  on  the  Library, 
in  charge  of  the  measure  in  the  Senate,  whose  study  of  the 
subject  had  taken  a  wide  range  of  inquiry,  and  whose  collection 
of  material  particularly  relating  to  the  events  associated  with 
the  presence  of  the  mission  was  both  exhaustive  and  valuable. 

Much  assistance  was  also  rendered  by  Mr.  James  T.  McCleary, 
Representative  from  Minnesota,  chairman  of  the  House  Com 
mittee  on  the  Library,  through  whom  the  commemoration 


Prefatory  7 

reached  the  success  of  its  parliamentary  stage  in  the  House  of 
Representatives,  his  report  from  the  Committee  on  the  Library 
having  not  only  attracted  marked  attention,  but  was  convincing. 

A  deep  sense  of  appreciation  is  felt  toward  M.  Jusserand,  the 
ambassador  of  France  at  Washington,  for  his  active  interest  in 
securing  the  portraits  of  the  President  of  France  and  of  the 
military  and  naval  chiefs  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  Mission.  Also 
of  the  representatives  of  the  families  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and 
Lafayette. 

The  ambassador  reflects  in  the  highest  degree  the  traditional 
feeling  of  affectionate  friendship  for  the ' '  Government  and  people 
of  the  United  States"  conceived  In  the  treaty  of  "Alliance," 
Recognition,  and  Amity,  sealed  in  the  blood  of  Frenchmen  and 
Americans  in  battle  array  on  land  and  sea  and  born  of  independ 
ence  won  by  the  valor  of  American  and  French  arms  on  the 
field  of  Yorktown. 


To  extend  to  the  GOVERNMENT  and  PEOPLE  of  FRANCE 
and  the  FAMILIES  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  LAFAYETTE 
A  CORDIAL  INVITATION  to  unite  with  the  GOVERN 
MENT  and  PEOPLE  of  THE  UNITED  STATES  in  the 
INAUGURATION  of  the  MONUMENT  to  MARSHAL 

ROCHAMBEAU 
* 

THE  PRESIDENT     ::::::     THEODORE  ROOSEVELT 


iRiirhumhrmi   ittumtmrut  dmuuuuumt 

Created  by  Act  of  Congress 


attb  !Er*rttnn  o 

JOHN  HAY,  Secretary  of  State         ELIHU  ROOT,  Secretary  of  War 
GEORGE  PEABODY  WETMORE 

Chainnan  Committee  on  the  Library,  Senate 

JAMES  T.  McCLEARY 

Chairman  Committee  on  the  Library,  House 

?Ettt*riatttm*ttt  nf  Jfamgtt  (toata 

May  24,  1902 

JOHN  HAY,  Secretary  of  State 
Colonel  THEODORE  A.  BINGHAM,  U.  S.  A. 

Aid  to  the  President,  Master  of  Ceremonies 


Authorized  by  the  Monument  Commission 
HERBERT  H.  D.  PEIRCE,  Third  Assistant  Secretary  of  State 

THEODORE  A.  BINGHAM  RAYMOND  P.  RODGERS 

Colonel,  U.  S.  A.  Commander,  U.  S.  N. 


In  attendance  upon  the  Rochambeau  Mission  during  their  sojourn  in  the  United  States 
HERBERT  H.  D.  PEIRCE,  Third  Assistant  Secretary  of  State 

Colonel  THEODORE  A.  BINGHAM,  U.  S.  A. 

Commander  RAYMOND  P.  RODGERS,  U.  S.  N. 

EDWIN  MORGAN,  Secretary 


on  tty  Hibrarg 


A  UTHORITY  TO  PURCHASE 


Senate 
GEORGE  P.  WETMORE,  Chairman 

Rhode  Island 
HENRY  C.  HANSBROUGH 

North  Dakota 
FRANCIS  M.  COCKRELL 

Missouri 
HENRY  AMBLER  VALE,  Clerk 


House  of  Representatives 
JAMES  T.  MCCLEARY,  Chairman 

Minnesota 
H.  H.  POWERS 

Vermont 
AMOS  J.  CUMMINGS 

New  York 
LESLIE  T.  MCCLEARY,  Clerk 


SITE  AND  DEDICA  TION 


GEORGE  P.  WETMORE,  Chairman 

Rhode  Island 
HENRY  C.  HANSBROUGH 

North  Dakota 
GEORGE  G.  VEST 

Missouri 
HENRY  AMBLER  VALE,  Clerk 


GEORGE  P.  WETMORE,  Chairman 

Rhode  Island 
HENRY  C.  HANSBROUGH 

North  Dakota 
JOHN  F.  DRYDEN 

New  Jersey 
WILLIAM  A.  CLARK 

Montana 
ARTHUR  P.  GORMAN 

Maryland 
HENRY  AMBLER  VALE,  Clerk 


PUB LIC A  TION 


JAMES  T.  MCCLEARY,  Chairman 

Minnesota 
SAMUEL  W.  MCCALL 

Massachusetts 
AMOS  J.  CUMMINGS 

New  York 
LESLIE  T.  MCCLEARY,  Clerk 


JAMES  T.  MCCLEARY,  Chairman 

Minnesota 
SAMUEL  W.  MCCALL 

Massach  usetts 
JAMES  P.  CONNER 

Iowa 
WILLIAM  M.  HOWARD 

Georgia 
CHARLES  R.  THOMAS 

North  Carolina 
LESLIE  T.  MCCLEARY,  Clerk 


on  printing 


A  UTHORITY  TO  PRINT 


THOMAS  C.  PLATT,  Chairman 
New  York      ' 

STEPHEN  B.  ELKINS 

West  Virginia 

ARTHUR  P.  GORMAN 

Maryland 
ALBERT  H.  HOWE,  Clerk 


CHARLES  B.  I^ANDIS,  Chairman 

Indiana 
JAMES  B.  PERKINS 

New  York 
PARISH  C.  TATE 

Georgia 
VICTOR  I,.  RICKETTS,  Clerk 


jmtg-tttttilj 

RENEWAL  OF  AUTHORITY  TO  PRINT 


THOMAS  C.  PLATT,  Chairman 
New  York 

STEPHEN  B.  ELKINS 

IVest  Virginia 

ARTHUR  P.  GORMAN 

Maryland 
ALBERT  H.  HOWE,  Clerk 

IO 


CHARLES  B.  I^ANDIS,  Chairman 

Indiana 
JAMES  B.  PERKINS 

New  York 
JAMES  M.  GRIGGS 

Georgia 
VICTOR  Iy.  RICKETTS,  Clerk 


INTRODUCTION 


The  duration  of  time  and  the  casualties  of  nations  alone  shall 
fill  the  limit  of  the  obligation  of  the  Federal  Commonwealth  of 
the  United  Sovereign  States  of  America  to  the  '  '  Government 
and  people"  of  France.  Whatever  was,  is,  or  may  be  the  form 
of  their  respective  autonomous  existences,  amid  the  mutations 
of  human  activities,  the  American  people  during  their  politico- 
corporate  life  must  always  revert  to  the  participation  of  France 
as  a  potential  factor  in  the  coordination  and  sequence  of  events 
which  upheld  and  carried  to  fruition  the  contention  of  the  British 
colonies  of  North  America  for  independence. 

It  was  not  an  issue  during  the  fateful  experiences  of  1778- 
1783,  nor  is  it  at  this  momentous  period  of  governmental,  insti 
tutional,  social,  and  racial  development  necessary  to  scrutinize 
abstractly  nor  concretely  the  underlying  motive,  if  any,  aside 
from  the  beneficent  results  of  his  succor,  of  the  part  taken  by 
Louis  XVI,  King  of  France  and  Navarre,  in  American  affairs. 
We  are  dealing  with  events  as  they  transpired  in  obedience  to 
orders  in  the  field  and  conclusions  as  they  assumed  organic 
form  in  the  treaty  of  Paris. 

This  much  is  patent  to  anyone  specifically  familiar  with  the 
natal  struggles  of  the  North  American  States.  The  capture  of 
the  last  British  army  on  American  soil  was  possible  at  that  crisis 
only  with  the  cooperation  of  the  forces  of  ROCHAMBKAU  and 
St.  Simon  ashore  and  the  naval  army  of  De  Grasse  afloat. 

The  encircling  trenches  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  were  occupied  arid 
pushed  to  the  front  by  7,000  French,  auxiliary  to  5,500  Amer 
icans  of  the  Continental  Line.  The  only  avenue  of  escape  by 
sea  was  cut  off  by  36  French  ships  of  war.  As  a  contingent 


1 2  Introduction 

on  land  were  3,500  Virginia  militia.  The  enemy  surrendered 
7,251  officers  and  men  and  840  seamen,  total  8,091.  This  was 
but  909  men  less  than  the  combined  strength  of  Continentals 
and  militia,  a  weight  of  numbers  it  must  be  conceded  totally 
inadequate  for  siege  or  assault  of  the  "bottled  up"  British  and 
Hessians,  pending  relief  from  the  fleet  of  Graves,  at  New  York, 
frustrated  by  the  victory  of  the  ships  of  De  Grasse  before  the 
lines  of  investment  were  fairly  set,  and  their  presence  and  coop 
eration  during  the  nineteen  days  of  beleaguerment.  Nor  does 
this,  great  as  it  is,  approach  the  magnitude  of  the  physical 
succor  placed  by  the  King  of  ^  France  at  the  disposal  of  the 
American  States.  To  Yorktown  must  be  prefaced  the  earlier 
operations  of  d'Hstaing  at  Newport  and  Savannah.  Only  then 
do  we  begin  to  comprehend  with  a  sense  of  wonder  its  colossal 
proportions.  Ergo,  we  have  the  recount:  63  French  ships  of 
war,  mounting  3,668  guns  and  manned  by  32,600  officers  and 
seamen,  and  35  battalions  of  grenadiers  and  infantry,  7  com 
panies  of  artillery,  2  companies  of  lancers,  and  2  companies 
of  hussars,  mustering  12,680  officers  and  soldiers,  footing  up 
45,280  Frenchmen,  available  during  three  and  one-half  years, 
for  warlike  purposes  on  sea  and  land. 

Nor  does  this  include  a  costly  war  in  which  France  became 
involved  with  Great  Britain  in  consequence  of  the  capitulations 
of  alliance  and  recognition  of  the  independence  of  the  rebelling 
States;  nor  does  it  bring  to  count  the  vast  sums  of  money 
advanced  by  secret  subvention  and  public  convention  to  cash 
an  empty  exchequer,  bolster  a  fiat  currency,  and  honor  bills 
for  material  and  munitions  of  war;  nor  does  it  enter  into  the 
recital  the  ships,  men,  and  supplies  conveyed  and  convoyed 
across  a  stretch  of  intervening  ocean,  patrolled  by  fleets  and 
cruisers  of  the  enemy,  4,000  miles,  as  the  gull  did  fly,  and  many 
more  as  the  fickle  winds  did  determine. 

Whether  we  look  backward  or  forward  from  the  point  d'appuy 
of  Yorktown  to  consider  out  of  the  past  the  interests  or  instru 
ments  exploited  through  French  priestly  or  lay  explorers  or 
Canadian  voyageurs  or  contemplate  the  acquisition  of  vast 
territories,  we  find  the  power  and  people  of  France  during  the 


Introduction  13 

seventeenth  and  eighteenth  and  beginning  of  the  nineteenth 
centuries,  more  than  of  any  other  nation,  distinctively  and 
cooperatively  impressed  upon  the  present  conterminous  domain 
of  the  United  .States  of  America. 

These  are  some  of  the  realities  of  coincident  happenings  and 
contemporaneous  commemoration  symbolized  by  the  monument 
umeiled  on  the  24th  day  of  May  in  the  year  of  grace  1902  at 
the  Capital  of  the  Greater  United  States  of  America  to  the 
services  of  JEAN  BAPTISTE  DONATION  DE  VIMKURK  COMTK  DK 
ROCHAMBEAU  and  his  countrymen  in  the  war  of  the  American 
Revolution,  the  story  of  whom  now  to  be  told  is  replete  with 
object  lessons  of  instruction  and  deduction  to  every  youth  in 
the  years  of  educational  probation  and  adult  in  the  fullest 
enjoyment  of  every  right,  title,  and  opportunity  embraced  in 
American  citizenship. 


ROCHAMBEAU'S 
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MEMBERS  OF  THE  CONGRESSIONAL  COMMISSION 

JOHN  HAY  ELIHU  ROOT 

Secretary  of  State  Secretary  of  War 

GEORGE  PEABODY  WETMORE,  of  Rhode  Island  JAMES  T.  MCCLEARY,  of  Minnesota 

U.  S.  Senate  House  of  Representatives 

Chairmen  of  the  Committees  on  the  Library. 


JOHN  HAY,  a  native  of  Salem,  Ind.,  born  1838,  received  his  graduate  education  at 
Brown  University,  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  acquired  his  knowledge  of  law  at  Springfield, 
111. ;  immediately  after  he  came  to  Washington  as  assistant  secretary  to  President  I^in- 
coln.  He  was  commissioned  in  the  Army  and  detailed  as  adjutant  and  aid-de-camp. 
Upon  the  installation  of  Andrew  Johnson  he  was  made  secretary  of  legation  to  France, 
He  was  transferred  as  secretary  of  legation  to  Austria-Hungary,  where  he  acted  as 
charg^  d'affaires.  In  June,  1869,  he  was,  sent  to  Spain  as  secretary  of  legation.  The 
following  year  he  left  the  diplomatic  service  and  became  an  editorial  writer  on  the 
New  York  Tribune.  In  November,  1879,  he  became  Assistant  Secretary  of  State,  but 
retired  May  3,  1881.  On  March  9,  1897,  President  McKinley  appointed  him  ambassador 
extraordinary  and  plenipotentiary  to  Great  Britain,  from  which  he  retired  September 
19,  1898.  The  next  day  he  was  appointed  Secretary  of  State  and  was  invited  by  Presi 
dent  Roosevelt  (1901)  to  continue  in  that  office. 

EUHU  ROOT,  born  in  Clinton,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1845,  graduated  from  Hamilton 
College  in  1864.  After  a  short  term  as  an  educator  at  Rome  young  Root  two  years  later 
graduated  with  high  honors  from  the  University  of  I^aw  of  the  City  of  New  York.  He 
was  immediately  admitted  to  the  bar  and  began  the  practice  of  law  in  the  great  metrop 
olis.  His  first  great  opportunity  was  as  United  States  attorney  for  the  southern  dis 
trict  of  New  York.  In  this  field  he  labored  with  great  advantage  to  the  Government 
until  the  summer  of  1885,  when  he  returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  was 
a  delegate  at  large  to  the  State  constitutional  convention  of  1894,  being  chairman  of 
the  judiciary  committee;  was  a  member  of  the  Alaskan  Boundary  Commission,  Sec 
retary  of  War,  August  i,  1899,  retired  January  31,  1904;  Secretary  of  State,  July  7,  1905. 

GEORGE  PEABODY  WETMORE,  whose  resident  city  is  Newport,  the  headquarters 
for  nearly  a  year  of  the  French  auxiliary  army  in  the  States,  was  born  in  I,ondon, 
England,  in  1846,  during  a  visit  of  his  parents  abroad.  His  education  was  American, 
graduating  at  Yale  in  1867  and  in  the  profession  of  law  at  Columbia  College  in  1869, 
in  the  former  receiving  the  degrees  of  A.  B.  and  A.  M.  and  in  the  latter  1,1,.  B.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  Rhode  Island  and  New  York  the  same  year.  His  knowledge 
of  affairs  early  placed  him  in  many  positions  of  high  responsibility,  among  them 
trustee  of  the  Peabody  Museum  of  Natural  History  in  Yale  University  and  of  the  Pea  body 
Educational  Fund.  His  career  in  national  Republican  politics  began  in  1880  as  first 
Presidential  elector  of  Rhode  Island,  which  was  repeated  in  1884.  He  was  member  of 
the  committee  authorized  by  the  general  assembly  to  receive  the  representatives  of 
France  during  their  visit  to  Rhode  Island  in  1881,  the  centennial  of  Yorktown.  In  State 
affairs  he  was  governor  1885-1887.  His  choice  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States  in  1894 
was  by  a  unanimous  vote.  In  1900  he  was  again  chosen. 

JAMES  THOMPSON  McCI,EARY,  Representative  in  Congress  from  the  Second 
district  of  Minnesota,  a  constituency  comprising  n  counties,  with  a  population  of 
175,174  inhabitants,  was  born  in  Ontario,  Dominion  of  Canada,  in  1853.  He  received 
his  education  at  his  native  town,  graduating  with  honors  at  the  high  school,  and  took  a 
course  of  higher  learning  at  the  McGill  University,  Montreal,  where  he  again  received 
the  highest  recognition  of  scholarship.  For  some  years  he  taught  school  in  Wisconsin, 
resigning  in  1881  the  superintendency  of  the  Pierce  County  schools  to  become  State 
institute  conductor  of  Minnesota  and  professor  of  history  and  civics  in  the  State 
Normal  School  at  Mankato,  his  present  residence,  until  June,  1892.  During  the  sum 
mer  vacations  he  conducted  institutes  in  Wisconsin,  Dakota,  Virginia,  Tennessee,  and 
Colorado.  In  1888  he  published  studies  in  civics,  and  in  1894  a  Manual  of  Civics.  The 
value  of  these  works  was  attested  by  their  use  in  the  best  schools  of  the  United  States. 
In  1891  he  was  chosen  president  of  the  Minnesota  Educational  Association.  He  was 
elected  to  the  Fifty-third  Congress  and  for  each  succeeding  term.  His  wide  learning 
and  experience  in  parliamentary  affairs  has  won  for  him  the  front  rank  of  national 
legislators. 


DN'EIMHU  ROOT:  SEC.OFWAR     A 


A  ROMANCE  IN  LEGISLATION 


The  idea  of  erecting  a  statue  of  ROCHAMBKAU  at  the  Ameri 
can  capital  in  commemoration  of  the  timely  aid  rendered  by 
France  to  the  American  States  struggling  for  independence 
grew  out  of  a  visit  by  M.  Jules  Bceufve,  chancellor  of  the 
French  embassy  at  Washington,  to  the  Marquise  de  Rocham- 
beau  at  her  country  seat  near  Vendome,  the  birthplace  of  the 
French  general  of  the  American  Revolution. 

It  occurred  to  him  there  were  six  or  seven  statues  in  the 
United  States  of  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  which  personified  the 
part  taken  in  the  movement  to  free  the  American  colonies  by 
himself  as  an  individual,  and  by  other  liberty-loving  French 
noblemen  also  as  individuals. 

On  the  other  hand,  ROCHAMBKAU,  commander  in  chief  of 
the  French  auxiliary  army,  typifying  the  official  intervention 
of  the  King,  representing  the  Government  of  France,  which 
assured  the  success  of  the  conflict,  was  without  any  testimony 
whatever. 

Therefore,  upon  returning  to  Paris,  M.  Bceufve  had  an  inter 
view  with  General  Porter,  the  American  ambassador,  who  was 
present  and  delivered  an  address  at  the  dedication  of  the  original 
statue  of  Count  DK  ROCHAMBKAU  at  Vendome.  On  October  3, 
the  ambassador  wrote  to  Mr.  Cannon,  chairman  of  the  House 
Committee  oil  Appropriations,  favoring  the  project.  The  untir 
ing  efforts  of  M.  Bceufve,  upon  -resuming  his  duties  at  Washing 
ton,  took  shape,  through  the  cooperation  of  friends  in  and  out 
of»Congress,  and  the  potential  efforts  of  M.  Jules  Cambon,  the 
ambassador  of  France. 

15 


1 6  A  Romance  in  Legislation 

The  lead  in  the  Congressional  proceedings  and  enactments 
was  taken  by  Representative  James  T.  MeCleary,  of  Minnesota, 
in  the  House,  and  Senator  George  Peabody  Wetmore,  of  Rhode 
Island,  in  the  Senate,  respectively  chairmen  of  the  committees  on 
the  Library.  To  the  favorable  attention  of  these  gentlemen  the 
subject  in  all  its  details  was  brought  by  M.  Bceufve. 

BILI,  To  PURCHASE 

On  February  18,  1901,  Mr.  McCleary  introduced  in  the 
House  a  bill  for  the  purchase  of  a  "  replica  of  the  bronze 
statue  of  ROCHAMBKAU,  by  Fernand  Hamar,  and  pedestal,  for 
$7,500,"  which  was  referred  to  the  Committee  011  the  Library. 
Two  days  later  Mr.  McCleary,  from  that  committee,  reported 
the  same  without  amendment,  accomp'anied  by  a  report. 

.ROCHAMBKAU   IN    PARLIAMENTARY    PHRASE 

In  his  report  Mr.  McCleary  paid  the  following  tribute  to  the 
subject  of  commemoration  : 

[House  Report  No.  2928,  Fifty- sixth  Congress,  second  session.] 

The  Committee  on  the  Library,  to  whom  was  referred  the  bill  (H.  R. 
14217)  for  the  purchase  of  a  bronze  replica  of  the  Vendome  statue  of 
General  ROCHAMBKAU,  beg  leave  to  submit  the  following  report  and 
recommend  that  said  bill  do  pass: 

This  is  a  bill  enacting  that  $7,500  be  appropriated  to  be  expended  under 
the  direction  of  the  Joint  Committee  on  the  Library  in  the  purchase  of  a 
replica  of  the  bronze  statue  by  Ferdinand  Hamar,  lately  erected  at  Ven 
dome,  France,  of  JEAN  BAPTISTS  DONATIEN,  Comte  r>E  ROCHAMBEAU, 
who  commanded  the  forces  sent  by  Louis  XVI  of  France  to  the  assistance 
of  this  country  during  our  war  for  Independence. 

The  subject  of  this  statue,  which  it  is  proposed,  at  an  insignificant  cost, 
to  add  to  the  historical  art  treasures  of  the  capital,  was  a  great  and  noble 
man.  His  deeds  deserve  to  be  remembered  by  all  generations  of  our 
countrymen,  and  his  heroic  personality  ever  recalled  to  us  and  our  children 
forever  in  enduring  bronze;  for  to  him  and  his  military  ability,  as  well 
as  to  the  brave  and  willing  sons  of  France  he  commanded,  in  an  impor 
tant  degree,  we  owe  the  fact  of  our  independence  as  a  nation  and  t^ie 
institutions  and  liberties  which  have  come  down  to  us  from  the  Revolu 
tion — a  glorious  heritage. 


A  Romance  in  Legislation  17 

In  his  oration  at  the  unveiling  of  Bartlett's  statue  of  Lafayette  in  the 
court  of  the  Tuileries  Gardens  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  1900,  Archbishop 
Ireland,  of  St.  Paul,  said: 

"  'It  was  the  participation  of  France  in  the  war  of  Independence  which 
rendered  liberty  possible  in  America  in  the  eighteenth  century.'  Such 
is  the  verdict  of  history  as  expressed  by  the  learned  historian  of  Lafayette, 
the  Hon.  Charlemagne  Tower,  our  present  ambassador  at  the  Court  of  St. 
Petersburg.  The  colonies  were  determined  to  become  free;  their  spirit 
of  sacrifice  was  so  burning,  their  methods  were  so  practical,  that  sooner 
or  later  their  independence  would  have  been  conquered;  but  that  they 
should  have  gained  their  independence  in  the  war  begun  in  1776  without 
the  assistance  of  France  we  can  not  believe." 

With  a  depleted  treasury  and  with  his  annual  budgets  showing  increasing 
deficits,  King  Louis  XVI  nevertheless  found  means  to  supply  the  Conti 
nental  Congress  with  money  and  with  arms,  ammunition,  troops,  and  war 
ships  with  which  to  carry  on  the  struggle.  His  young  nobility,  stirred 
by  the  example  of  the  heroic  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  flocked  to  our  stand 
ard.  Without  depreciating  in  the  smallest  degree  the  sources  or  the  fame 
of  others,  it  may  be  truthfully  said  that  among  all  the  benefits  showered 
upon  us  by  that  virtuous  and  worthy  but  unfortunate  prince,  none  was 
more  important,  none  more  conducive  to  the  final  victory,  than  his 
personal  gift  of  the  brave,  tried,  and  distinguished  soldier  the  Comte 

DE  ROCHAMBEAU. 

Here  we  can  only  with  extreme  brevity  recall  hfc  career  and  his  splendid 
achievements  in  behalf  of  American  liberty: 

JEAN  BAPTISTS  DONATIEN  DE  VIMEUR,  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  was 
born  in  1725.  He  was  intended  for  the  church,  but  preferred  to  follow 
in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  and  therefore  he  adopted  the  military 
profession,  entering  the  French  army  in  1742.  After  thirty -eight  years 
of  varied  and  arduous  service,  in  March,  1780,  he  reached  the  grade  of 
lieutenant-general  and,  in  the  same  year,  was  assigned  to  command  the 
expedition  in  aid  of  the  colonies.  With  6,000  troops,  which  were  followed 
by  reenforcements,  he  sailed  from  Brest  in  May,  1780,  landing  at  Newport, 
R.  I.,  in  July. 

With  great  skill  and  address  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  thwarted  a  con 
templated  attack  upon  Newport  by  the  British  commanders  Clinton  and 
Arbuthnot.  In  September,  1780,  he  held  a  conference  with  General  Wash 
ington,  and  proposed  to  the  latter  a  plan  of  campaign  for  the  ensuing 
summer.  Circumstances  interposed  to  change  the  character  and  objec 
tive  of  their  joint  operations,  but  under  a  wise  dispensation  of  Providence 
they  were  able  to  cooperate  in  1781,  and  in  that  year  to  conduct  to  a  suc 
cessful  issue  the  decisive  campaign  of  the  war. 

The  operations  of  the  British  in  the  Carolinas  and  Virginia  had  been 
proceeding  with  varying  fortune  under  Lord  Cornwallis,  when  his  superior, 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 -2 


1 8  A  Romance  in  Legislation 

General  Clinton,  fearing  an  attack  upon  New  York  by  the  allied  forces, 
ordered  him  to  detach  3,000  men  to  that  place,  and  to  seek  and  fortify  a 
defensible  position  and  hold  it  with  the  7,000  left  him.  Cornwallis  there 
upon  established  himself  at  Yorktown. 

Washington  was  at  Dobbs  Ferry  planning  a  campaign  against  Clinton 
at  New  York  when  the  happy  news  reached  him  that  Comte  de  Grasse,  in 
command  of  the  French  West  Indian  fleet,  who  had  been  urged  to  hasten 
to  our  aid  by  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  was  prepared  to  cooperate. 

The  objective  of  our  operations  was  immediately  changed.  ROCHAM 
BEAU  hurried  to  join  Washington  at  Dobbs  Ferry,  where  he  arrived  July  6, 
1781,  and  then  the  two  great  comrades  in  arms  began  that  series  of  stra 
tegical  and  tactical  movements  which  has  rilled  students  of  military  science 
with  admiration  ever  since.  By  a  number  of  feints,  cleverly  planned  and 
executed,  Clinton  was  made  certain  that  he  was  to  be  attacked,  and 
assembled  all  his  forces  and  resources  for  the  contest.  While  he  was  held 
perfectly  in  play  the  allies  passed  from  the  west  bank  of  the  Hudson  into 
New  Jersey  and  began  their  historic  march  to  Virginia. 

When  the  allied  armies  had  reached  Chester,  Pa.,  on  September  5, 
Washington  learned  th#t  De  Grasse,  with  his  ships  and  troops,  had  entered 
the  Chesapeake.  , 

Three  days  later  Washington,  ROCHAMBEAU,  and  the  Marquis  de  Chas- 
tellux  started  from  Baltimore  for  a  two  days'  visit  to  Mount  Vernon, 
which  the  Father  of  his  Country  had  not  seen  for  six  years.  On  the  25th 
of  September  the  last  division  of  the  allied  forces  reached  Williamsburg, 
12  miles  distant  from  Yorktown,  and  advanced  in  force  upon  Lord  Corn 
wallis  on  the  28th,  under  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU,  the  French  fleet 
meantime  covering  the  British  position  from  York  River.  By  the  3oth 
the  investment  was  complete.  From  all  sides  the  siege  was  pressed  with 
vigor  and  friendly  emulation  by  the  allies.  Help  failing  him,  the  desper 
ate  efforts  at  sortie  proving  disastrous,  and  an  epidemic  breaking  out  in 
his  camp  prostrating  2,000  of  his  troops,  the  British  general  was  in  despair. 
After  a  terrible  cannonade  from  the  American  and  French  lines  on  the 
afternoon  and  night  of  October  9  and  the  morning  of  October  10,  his 
position  became  no  longer  tenable. 

Satisfied  that  neither  squadrons  nor  any  other  reenforcements  were 
coming  to  his  rescue,  Lord  Cornwallis  capitulated  on  October  18.  The 
surrender  included  7,000  British  regulars,  2,000  sailors  and  marines,  1,500 
Tories,  and  a  large  number  of  negroes.  The  French  contingent  partici 
pating  in  the  victory  consisted  of  7,000  troops  under  Comte  DE  ROCHAM 
BEAU  and  37  ships  under  Comte  de  Grasse.  The  American  force  with 
Washington  aggregated  9,000  men,  of  which  5,500  were  regulars.  After 
the  triumph  of  the  allied  arms  at  Yorktown,  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU 
went  to  the  South  to  assist  GeneraJ  Greene  in  the.Carolinas.  His  service 
ended  in  America,  he  sailed  for  France  in  January,  1783,  the  year  of  the 


A  Romance  in  Legislation  19 

peace.  He  received  the  thanks  of  Congress,  and  after  his  return  to-  his 
native  country  was  honored  with  the  baton  of  field  marshal. 

Under  the  revolution  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  commanded  the  Army 
of  the  North  for  some  time,  but,  being  suspected  of  disloyalty,  was  re 
moved.  He  disproved  the  charges  against  him  before  the  legislative  assem 
bly,  but  did  not  rejoin  the  army.  He  was  arrested  under  Rqbespierre, 
and  but  for  the  timely  death  of  that  leader,  in  the  reign  of  terror,  would 
have  been  executed  as' an  aristocrat.  He  was  released'and  spent  the  even 
ing  of  his  days  in  peace.  In  1805  Napoleon  I  conferred  upon  him  the 
grand  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor. 

He  died  at  Thore,  in  France,  in  1807,  full  of  years  and  honor. 

The  record  shows  that  while  this  important,  perhaps  vitally  important, 
contributor  to  our  independence  and  to  the  foundations  of  our  national 
greatness  and  prosperity  did  much  for  us,  this  country  has  done  little  for 
him  or  for  his  memory.  For  himself  the  hero  is  past  the  praise  or  blame  of 
man:  "The  good  knight  is  dust,  and  his  good  sword  is  rust."  But  for  his 
memory,  which  should  be  ever  sweet  and  dear  to  the  people  of  America,  we 
can  do  the  little  contemplated  in  the  bill  which  has  been  introduced. 

PASSAGE   IN    BOTH    HOUSES 

The  item  incorporated  in  the  sundry  civil  bill,  having  passed 
in  the  House,  through  the  interest  of  Mr.  Wetmore  was  agreed 
to  in  the  Senate,  and  approved  March  3,  1901. 

CONTRACT    FOR    THE    STATUE 

The  Joint  Committee  on  the  Library,  on  April  30,.  1901, 
entered  into  a  contract  with  M.  Jules  Bceufve  for  furnishing 
and  delivering  the  pedestal  and  statue. 

COMTE    DE    ROCHAMBEAU'S    APPRECIATION 

Count  de  Rochambeau,  in  reply  to  a  notification  of  the  action 
of  the  two  Houses  of  the  American  Congress,  sent  the  following: 

It  is  with  great  pleasure  that  I  heard  of  the  vote  of  Congress.  I  thanked 
General  Porter  in  the  name  of  the  Rochambeaus,  and  asked  him  to  con 
vey  to  the  members  of  the  American  Parliament  the  expression  of  our 
gratitude.  Would  it  be  indiscreet,  sir,  to  beg  you  to  fulfill  the  same 
request? 


2o  A  Romance  in  Legislation 

M.    CAMBON   TO    MR.    M'CLEARY 

In  a  communication  of  May  17,  1901,  to  Mr.  McCleary,  the 
French  ambassador  expressed  his  appreciation  of  "his  kind 
initiative"  in  "having  Congress  provide  for  the  purchase  of 
a  replica'of  the  statue  of  ROCHAMBKAU,  to  be  erected  in  Wash 
ington,"  and  his  "earnest  wish  that  this  statue  might  be  dedi 
cated  in  the  spring  of  1902." 

On  the  22d  ensuing  Mr.  McCleary  acknowledged  the  kind 
observations  of  the  ambassador,  and  mentioned  the  pleasure  it 
afforded  him  to  bring  the  matter  to  the  attention  of  the  Com 
mittee  on  Appropriations. 

SCULPTOR'S  SUGGESTIONS 

M.  Cambon,  the  French  ambassador,  and  M.  Boeufve,  during 
the  summer  had  had  frequent  interviews  with  M.  Fernand 
Hamar,  the  sculptor,  in  Paris,  and  in  the  autumn  with  members 
of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  Commission  in  Washington.  It  was  found 
advisable  to  recommend  the  enlargement  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU 
monument,  so  as  to  make  it  correspond  in  height  with  that  of 
Lafayette  in  the  same  park,  adding: 

The  very  simple  pedestal  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  statue  in  Vendome  (the 
Marshal's  birthplace,  being  a  small  town  of  but  5,000  inhabitants) 
would  be  altogether  out  of  place  in  a  capital  of  Washington's  beauty  and 
importance. 

It  was  therefore  proposed  to  make  the  new  pedestal  of  dimen 
sions  similar  to  those  of  the  pedestal  supporting  the  Lafayette 
monument,  and  particularly  to  embrace  the  entire  conception  of 
the  sculptor,  to  include  a  pedestal  bearing  the  harmonious  alle 
gorical  group  in  bronze,  a  woman  holding  aloft  the  standard  of 
France,,  her  feet  resting  on  the  prow  of  a  ship  at  the  moment  of 
touching  the  shores  of  America,  typical  of  the  succor  brought 
across  the  sea  in  aid  of  the  struggling  States,  and  other  relevant 
features,  including  the  American  eagle,  the  shield  of  the  States, 
and  the  arms  of  the  Bourbons  and  ROCHAMBEAU. 


the 
Mis  kind 

' 

;: 

,<-nest  wi- 
g  of  1902." 
suing  Mr.  ;\ 
.lie  ambassa-  e  pleasn 

g  the  m;  Attention  of  the  Com- 

iations. 


M.  JULES  BCEUFVE 
M .  Chancellor  of  the  French  embassy  at  Washington 

M.  JULES  BCETTFVE,  born  in  Liverpool,  England,  September  8,  1857,  where  his  father 
was  French  vice-consul,  was  educated  in  Germany.  He  entered  the  French  consular 
service  in  1878  at  Frankfort  on  the  Main  ;  was  transferred  to  lyisbon,  and  sent  to  Wash 
ington  in  1882  as  secretary  of  the  French  and  American  claims  commission.  In  1884 
he  was  appointed  vice-consul  at  New  Orleans,  and  in  1886  was  transferred  to  Washing 
ton  as  chancellor  of  the  French  embassy.  He  is  perfect  master  of  the  American 
tongue  and  has  a  wide  acquaintance  with  men  and  affairs. 

"p  -  (>!c  pefU^'. 

.     . .    ... 

•  :  out  ol    * 

};.  •. •  fore  pro J.KV. - 

tr  to  those  oi  -ing  the  Lafayette 

and  particu*  option  of 

to  include  alle- 

:p  in  brtm/e.  ,  .uidard  of 

feet  restitij^ 

te  shores  of  A  LypicaJ 

:>e  sea  in  air. 
including  the  .* 
s  of  the  ; 


A  Romance  in  Legislation  21 

PEDESTAL    ELABORATED — CONGRESSIONAL  COMMISSION  ' 

In  order  to  carry  out  this  plan  Mr.  McCleary,  through  the 
regular  channels  of  the  War  and  Treasury  Departments,  requested 
certain  estimates,  which  took  the  form  of  an  appropriation  of 
$15,000  for  the  "preparation  of  a  site  and  the  erection  of  a 
pedestal"  under  the  "supervision  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  the 
Secretary  of  War,  and  the  chairmen  of  the  committees  on  the 
Library  of  the  Fifty-seventh  Congress ' '  and  also  ' '  to  defray 
the  expenses  attending  the  unveiling  of  the  said  statue,"  which 
was  made  an  item  in  the  urgent  deficiency  bill  then  under 
consideration  in  the  House.  Having  passed  in  that  body  it 
received  the  special  attention  in  the  Senate  of  the  chairman  of 
the  Committee  on  the  Library,  Mr.  Wetmore,  and  was  approved 
February  14,  1902. 


THE  STATUE  COMMISSION 


Referring  to  the  '  '  desire  of  the  French  ambassador  and  of  all 
concerned  '  '  to  have  the  statue  dedicated  in  Washington  on  Sat 
urday,  May  24,  1902,  the  fact  was  brought  out  that  the  occa 
sion  would  commemorate  the  anniversary  of  the  day  on  which 
the  Marshal,  at  the  age  of  17,  entered  the  French  army  as  a 
"cornette"  in  the  cavalry  regiment  of  St.  Simon. 

It  was  also  mentioned  that  the  Marquise  de  Rochambeau  with 
her  late  husband  were  the  guests  of  the  American  Government 
during  the  Yorktown  centennial  ceremonies  of  1  88  1  ,  and  remem 
bered  with  the  greatest  pleasure  the  enthusiastic  reception 
accorded  the  delegates  which  France  sent  on  that  occasion  to 
the  United  States. 

GOVERNMENT   AND    PEOPLE   OF    FRANCE   AND    FAMILIES"  OF 
ROCHAMBEAU   AND    LAFAYETTE    INVITED 

The  Marquise  was  also  desirous  her  sons  should  participate 
in  the  unveiling  of  the  statue  of  their  ancestor  in  Washington. 

It  was  further  intimated  that  the  departments  of  foreign 
affairs,  war,  and  navy  were  disposed  to  send  officers  of  high 
rank  to  represent  the  French  Government  officially,  and  the 
French  ambassador's  intention  was  to  request  that  a  man-of- 
war  be  ordered  to  the  United  States  for  the  purpose  of  detail 
ing  detachment  of  French  sailors  and  marines  to  take  part  in 
the  ceremonies. 

In  this  aspect  of  the  subject,  Mr.  Robert  R.  Hitt,  of  Illinois, 
chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs,  introduced  in  . 
the  House  of  Representatives  on  March  7,  1902,  a  joint  resolu 
tion,  which  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Appropriations, 

23 


24  The  Statue  Commission 

1 '  authorizing  and  requesting  the  President  to  extend  to  the 
Government  and  people  of  France  and  the  family  of  General 
DK  ROCHAMBEAU"  an  invitation  to  join  the  Government 
and  people  of  the  United  States  in  the  dedication  of  the 
monument  of  General  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  to  be  unveiled  in 
the  city  of  Washington.  This  was  amended  to  include  the 
family  of  Marquis  de  Lafayette.  The  resolution,  carrying  an 
appropriation  of  $  10,000,  passed  both  Houses  and  was  approved 
March  21,  1902. 

The  French  Government,  recognizing  the  international  phase 
of  a  commemoration  of  the  aid  rendered  in  freeing  the  North 
American  colonies  from  the  sovereignty  of  Great  Britain,  in 
reply  to  the  invitation  of  the  President  made  prompt  acceptance 
of  the  invitation  and  benefited  by  the  occasion,  to  designate 
one  of  the  best  types  of  ships  of  the  French  navy  and  repre 
sentative  officers  of  the  army  and  navy,  and  of  diplomacy, 
letters,  and  arts  to  participate  in  the  ceremonies. 

During  these  proceedings  in  Congress  and  the  interchange 
of  international  correspondence  of  invitation  and  acceptance, 
the  Commission  were  engaged  in  carrying  out  the  duties  imposed 
upon  them  by  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  February  14,  1902. 

COMTE  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  ON  THE  PLANS 

When  the  Count  de  Rochambeau  was  informed  of  the  nature 
of  the  plans  for  the  statue,  he  replied: 

You  (M.  BcEUFVE)  are  a  thousand  times  kind  to  think,  in  the  midst  of 
your  occupations,  of  sending  me  these  most  interesting  articles  concerning 
the  project  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  statue,  and  I  thank  you  in  my  name  and 
in  the  name  of  my  mother,  the  Marquise  de  Rochambeau. 

We  have  all  been  happy  over  the  success  of  your  efforts,  because  if  the 
Marshal  will  be  represented  in  the  capital  of  the  United  States  it  is  surely 
to  you  that  we  shall  owe  it.  May  his  statue  recall,  some  day  or  other,  to 
the  American  people  that  across  the  ocean  another  people  exists  which 
reached  out  to  them  a  helpful  hand  in  a  moment  of  danger. 

I  have  written  to«his  excellency  Monsieur  Cambon  to  thank  him  for 
having  given  the  project  his  assistance,  and,  as  I  have  already  told  you, 
I  have  asked  General  Porter  to  convey  to  Congress  our  most  heartfelt 
sentiments  of  gratitude. 


The  Statue  Commission  25 

Our  young  sculptor  is  at  work .  He  is  studying  his  pedestal  and  will  soon , 
I  believe,  begin  his  model,  unless  it  is  already  done,  because  I  have  not 
seen  him  these  last  few  days.  I  believe  his  conception  will  be  beautiful, 
and  will  produce  an  excellent  effect. 

Please,  sir,  believe  in  my  warm  gratitude  for  what  you  are  doing  and 
have  already  done  for  the  glory  of  our  name,  and  accept  the  assurance  of 
my  most  distinguished  sentiments. 

•AMBASSADOR    PORTER'S   VIEWS 

The  American  ambassador  at  Paris,  in  a  letter  to  the  same 
person,  referring  to  the  excellent  relations  established  by  the 
erection  of  monuments  of  this  international  character,  said: 

The  pedestal  which  M.  Hamar  has  prepared  for  the  statue  in  Washing 
ton  is  very  artistic  and  appropriate.  I  examined  the  marquette  with  great 
interest. 

I  am  sure,  from  previous  experience  in  inaugurating  our  several  inter 
national  monuments,  that  much  is  accomplished  thereby  in  drawing  still 
closer  the  sympathies  which  happily  exist  between  our  sister  Republics. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  interest  manifested  in  France  in  the  project,  in 
relation  to  which  you  have  labored  so  zealously  and  successfully. 

SITE   SELECTED   AND   PEDESTAL   COMMENCED 

On  April  2,  at  a  meeting  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  Commission, 
called  by  the  Secretary  of  State,  consisting  of  John  Hay,  Secre 
tary  of  State ;  Klihu  Root,  Secretary  of  War  ;  George  Peabody 
Wetmore,  of  Rhode  Island,  chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
the  Library  of  the  Senate,  and  James  T.  McCleary,  of  Min 
nesota,  chairman  of  the  House  Committee  on  the  Library, 
formal  action  was  taken  on  the  selection  of  the  southwestern 
corner  of  Lafayette  square  as  the  most  suitable  location  for  the 
monument. 

* 

It  was  decided  that  Colonel  Bingham  should  proceed  with 
the  preparation  of  a  site  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Lafayette 
square,  to  be  arranged  in  a  manner  similar  to  the  site  occupied 
by  the  statue  of  Lafayette  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the  same 
square. 

The  invitations  extended  to  the  Government  and  people  of 
France,  and  to  the  families  of  Marquis  de  Rochambeau  and 


26  The  Statue  Commission 

Marquis  de  L,afayette,  to  attend  the  ceremonies  to  be  held  in 
connection  with  the  unveiling  of  the  statue  on  May  24,  1902, 
were  read  and  placed  on  record. 

ORDER  OF  CEREMONIES  DETERMINED 

The  programme  determined  upon  by  the  Commission  was  as 
follows: 

The  unveiling  of  the  statue  to  take  place  at  n  a.  m.,  May  24, 
1902. 

A  battalion  of  French  seamen  with  their  band,  a  battalion  of 
United  States  engineers,  and  a  battalion  of  United  States  marines 
and  sailors,  with  the  Marine  Band ,>  to  be  present  at  the  unveiling. 
After  the  ceremony  these  troops,  together  with  a  battalion  of 
cavalry,  a  battalion  of  field  artillery,  and  a  brigade  of  the  Dis 
trict  of  Columbia  militia  to  pass  in  review  before  the  President. 

Maj.  Gen.  S.  B.  M.  Young,  U.  S.  Army  to  be  in  command 
of  the  troops. 

The  order  of  exercises  for  the  unveiling  to  be  as  follows: 

1.  Invocation  by  Cardinal  Gibbons. 

2.  Welcome  by  the  President  of  the  United  States. 

3.  Unveiling  of  the  statue  by  the  Countess  de  Rochambeau. 
Music:    "The  Marseillaise,"  by  the  Marine  Band. 

4.  Presentation  of  the  sculptor,  M.  Hamar. 

5.  Remarks  by  the  French  ambassador. 

6.  Selection  by  the  French  band. 

7.  Remarks  by  Gen.    Horace    Porter,   United   States   ambassador    to 

France. 

8.  Selections  by  the  Marine  Band. 

9.  Address  by  Senator  L,odge. 

10.  "  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  by  the  French  band. 

1 1.  Remarks  by  General  Brugere. 

12.  Benediction  by  Bishop  Satterlee. 

EXECUTIVE    COMMITTEE    PROCEEDINGS 

A  meeting  of  the  executive  committee  in  charge  of  the  details 
was  held  in  the  office  of  the  Third  Assistant  Secretary  of  State 
on  April  3,  1902,  at  10  o'clock. 

Present:  Mr.  Herbert  H.  D.  Peirce,  chairman;  Col.  Theodore 
A.  Bingham,  Commander  Raymond  P.  Rodgers. 


The  Statue  Commission  27 

After  completing  their  organization,  the  minutes  of  the.  meet 
ing  called  by  the  Secretary  of  State  on  April  2  were  read, 
and  ^arrangements  perfected  to  push  the  work  with  all  possible 
rapfdity.  M.  Boeufve  was  in  consultation  with  the  committee. 

After  deciding  that  nothing  would  be  done  in  regard  to  the 
reception  of  the  invited  guests  until  a  definite  reply  was  received 
to  the  invitations  which  had  been  issued,  the  committee  ad 
journed  at  10.50  o'clock  subject  to  the  call  of  the  chairman. 

The  next  day  the  Secretary  of  State  requested  the  Secretary 
of  War  to  order  Col.  T.  A.  Bingham,  U.  S.  Army,  Engineer  of 
Public  Buildings  and  Grounds, 

to  cause  a  suitable  foundation  for  the  pedestal  of  the  statue  of  ROCHAM- 
BEAU  to  be  constructed  on  *  *  *  the  site  selected  *  *  *  and  to 
cause  the  erection  of  the  pedestal  for  the  statue  and  to  perform  such  other 
acts  as  may  be  necessary  in  connection  therewith  *  *  * 

It  was  so  ordered. 

Advertisements  and  specifications  were  issued  the  day  after, 
asking  sealed  proposals  for  materials  for  the  foundation,  receiv 
able  until  2  p.  m.,  April  10,  1902,  and  to  be  delivered  by  the 
successful  bidder  for  use  between  April  10  and  30  in  quantities 
and  at  times  called  for.  A  number  of  responses  were  received 
and  later  the  necessary  permits  were  granted  to  occupy  the 
surrounding  ground  for  material  and  proceed  with  the  work. 

On  April  3,  Colonel  Bingham,  by  direction  of  the  Statue  Com 
mission,  was  designated  disbursing  officer  of  the  appropriation 
provided  by  the  act. 

ADMITTED    FREE   OF   DUTY 

On  April  17,  1902,  Mr.  Sereno  E.  Payne,  of  New  York,  in 
troduced  in  the  House  of  Representatives  a  joint  resolution 
' '  authorizing  the  entry  free  of  duty  of  a  replica  of  the  bronze 
statue  of  ROCHAMBEAU,  by  Fernand  Hamar,  and  pedestal  for 
the  same,"  which  was  passed  and  approved  April  29,  1902. 
The  amount  of  duty  remitted  was  about  $3,500,  that  being  a 
stipulation  of  the  contract. 

On  April  19  the  necessary  permits  required  by  the  build 
ing  regulations  to  occupy  the  sidewalks  on  Jackson  place  and 


28  The  Statue  Commission 

Pennsylvania  avenue  for  the  construction  of  stands  during  the 
unveiling  ceremonies  and  closing  Jackson  place  to  traffic  for  a 
few  hours  011  the  day  of  unveiling  were  issued. 

On  a  request  from  the  Secretary  of  State  to  Mr.  Joseph  G. 
Cannon,  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Appropriations,  "for 
an  additional  appropriation  of  $10,000  on  account  of  the  dedi 
cation  of  the  statue  of  ROCHAMBKAU,"  Mr.  James  A.  Hem- 
enway,  of  Indiana,  on  May  5,  1902,  from  the  Committee  on 
Appropriations,  introduced  a  joint  resolution  carrying  that  sum 
for  the  purpose  set  forth,  which  was  passed,  concurred  in  by  the 
Senate,  and  approved  May  15,  1902. 

STATUE    PAID  'FOR 

On  May  20,  1902,  M.  Jules  Bceufve,  chancellor  of  the 
French  embassy,  handed  to  the  Department  of  the  Treasury,  at 
Washington,  the  voucher  under  which  the  sum  of  $7,500 
was  paid,  reciting  "in  payment  for  the  replica  of  the  bronze 
statue  of  ROCHAMBKAU,  by  Fernand  Hamar,  as  authorized  by 
the  Joint  Committee  of  the  Library  of  Congress  under  the  act 
of  March  3,  1901." 

With  these  preliminary  arrangements  the  work  proceeded 
rapidly.  On  the  day  set  apart  for  the  ceremonies  the  pedestal  and 
.statue  were  in  place,  the  latter  veiled  in  flags  of  the  two  Repub-> 
lies.  The  stands  for  the  accommodation  of  the  distinguished 
assemblage  were  ready  for  use  and  appropriately  decorated. 

REPORT   TO    CONGRESS — MONUMENT   AWAITS   UNVEIUNG 

The  President  pro  tempore  on  May  21,  1902,  presented  the 
following  letter  to  the  Senate: 

WASHINGTON,  May  77,  1902. 

SIR:  The  undersigned,  to  whom  was  committed,  by  the  act  of  Congress 
approved  February  14,  1902,  the  selection  of  a  site  and  the  supervision  of 
the  erection  thereon  of  a  statue  of  Marshal  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  commander 
in  chitf  of  the  French  forces  in  America  during  the  war  of  Independence, 
and  of  the  unveiling  of  said  statue,  respectfully  report  that  they  have  dis 
charged  the  duty  imposed  upon  them;  that  the  site  selected  is  the  south 
west  corner  of  Lafayette  square,  where  the  pedestal  has  been  erected,  and 
that  on  the  24th  day  of  May,  instant,  at  n  o'clock  a.  m.,  the  statue  of 


The  Statue  Commission  29 

Marshal  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  will  be  unveiled  with  appropriate  ceremonial, 
Senator  Henry  C.  Lodge  delivering  the  address.     Seats  have  been  reserved 
for  the  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress. 
We  remain,  sir,  very  respectfully,  yours, 

JOHN  HAY 

Secretary  of  State 
EUHU  ROOT 

Secretary  of  War 
GEO.  PEABODY  WETMORE 
Chairman  Committee  on  the  Library,  Senate 

J.  T.  McCXEARY 

Chairman  Committee  on  the  Library,  House 
Hon.  WILLIAM  P.  FRYE 

President  pro  tempore,  United  States  Senate 

Accompanying  this  letter  was  a  copy  of  the  order  of  exer 
cises  arranged  by  the  Congressional  Commission. 

On  the  same  day  the  report  in  the  same  terms  was  submitted 
to  the  House. 

COMMISSION    CONCLUDES    ITS    OFFICIAL    DUTIES 

The  Commission,  under  the  act  of  February  14,  1902,  held 
a  meeting  on  July  2,  1902,  for  the  purpose  of  passing  upon  the 
accounts  of  Col.  Theodore  A.  Bingham,  U.  S.  Army,  disburs 
ing  officer  under  the  appropriation  of  $15,000  provided  for  by 
the  said  act. 

Present:  Mr.  Hay,  Secretary  of  State;  Mr.  Wetmore,  chair 
man  of  the  Committee  on  the  Library,  Senate;  Mr.  McCleary, 
chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  Library,  House  of  Repre 
sentatives. 

The  accounts  were  approved. 

The  Commission  then  took  up  the  final  settlement  for  the 
pedestal  and  statue  under  the  act  of  February  14,  1902,  which 
reads  as  follows: 

That  any  part  of  this  sum  not  required  for  preparation  of  the  site  and' 
erection  of  said  pedestal  and  for  the  expense  attending  the  unveiling  of 
said  statue  may  be  used  and  expended  for  the  completion  of  said  statue 
and  pedestal. 

The  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  Library  of  the  House 
of  Representatives,  Mr.  James  T.  McCleary,  said  that  this 


30  The  Statue  Commission 

proviso  was  specifically  inserted  and  agreed  to  by  the  Commit 
tee  on  Appropriations  of  the  House  of  Representatives  to  pro 
vide  and  pay  for  the  additional  expense  incurred  over  and 
above  the  price  stipulated  in  the  contract  of  purchase  of  said 
statue  and  pedestal,  dated  April  30,  1901,  in  enlarging  this 
statue  beyond  the  original  statue  inaugurated  in  Vendome 
(France)  on  June  4,  1900,  in  order  to  adapt  it  to  the  site  on 
Lafayette  square  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  make  it  in  keeping, 
as  a  companion  piece,  with  the  monument  of  Lafayette,  already 
situated  in  the  same  park;  in  designing  and  executing  a  larger 
and  more  suitable  pedestal;'  also  in  designing  and  executing  on 
the  front  of  said  pedestal  the  bronze  allegorical  figure  which 
was  necessary  to  suit  this  replica  of  the  original  statue  to  its 
purpose  in  the  United  States. 


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oi  x1Bi;rtBl 


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j  rtt  ,873imjs«I  JB  ,sg8i  ntoS 


.  fitu  ci 

i'  rtooo  ; 
,^8i 
aeinoloo  gii  •  'T 


srfj  lo  iool 


-i  xio1^  lo 
A  lo  lioni/oo 

p8i 


ns  • 


lo 


I 

ited   in   the 

riginal    - 
n    Jin 
. 

with  tl, 
the  sail 
ore  suitable 
>nt  of  said 

xsary  to  M-  DELCASSE  (Th«,phile) 

:  1   the  Ull  3  Minuter  of  Foreign  Affairs 

Born  1852,  at  Pamiers,  in  the  Department  of  Ariege,  in  the  south  of  France,  at  the 
foot  of  the  Pyrenees,  12  miles  north  of  Foix.  Licentiate  of  letters;  chevalier  of  the 
L/egion  of  Honor,  1887;  counselor-general  of  Ariege,  Canton  of  Viedessos,  August,  1888; 
deputy  of  Foix  in  1889,  reelected  in  1893,  1898,  1902;  August  22,  1894,  president  of  the 
general  council  of  Ariege;  under  secretary  of  state  for  the  colonies  from  January  to 
December  3,  1893;  minister  of  the  colonies  May  30,  1894,  to  January  26,  1895;  minister 
of  foreign  affairs,  June  28,  1898,  to  June  6,  1905. 


INTERNATIONAL  CORRESPONDENCE 


In  compliance  with  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress  of  March 
21,  1902,  on  the  2yth  ensuing,  the  President  of  the  United  States 
transmitted,  through  John  Hay,  Secretary  of  State,  to  Horace 
Porter,  ambassador  of  the  United  States  to  France,  to  be  handed 
to  the  President  of  France  in  person,  the  following  autograph 
letter:' 

LETTER   OF   PRESIDENT  ROOSEVELT 

Theodore  Roosevelt,  President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  to  His 
Excellency,  Entile  Lonbet,  President  of  the  Republic  of  France 

GREAT  AND  GOOD  FRIEND:  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  has  adopted  a  concurrent  resolution, 
authorizing  and  directing  me  to  address  to  the  Government  and  people 
of  France  a  cordial  invitation  to  unite  with  the  people  and  Government  of 
the  United  States  in  order  to  proceed  in  a  manner  dignified  and  suitable 
to  the  inauguration  of  the  monument  of  Marshal  ROCHAMBEAU,  in  the 
city  of  Washington,  the  24th  day  of  the  month  of  May,  1902.  I  find 
myself,  in  consequence,  charged  with  the  agreeable  duty  of  transmitting 
this  invitation  to  the  Government  and  to  the  French  people  in  the  name 
of  the  Government  and  of  the  people  of  the  United  States. 

I  am  persuaded  that  Your  Excellency  will  see  in  this  act  a  new  proof 
of  the  enduring  gratitude  of  the  Government  and  of  the  American  people 
for  the  inestimable  services  of  France  during  the  war  of  our  Revolution, 
and  that  this  circumstance  will  serve  again  to  renew  more  closely  the  ties 
\\  hicn  since  that  period  have  united  the  two  countries. 

I  take  this  occasion  to  assure  Your  Excellency  of  the  ardent  wish  that 
I  entertain  for  your  health  and  prosperity,  also  for  the  happiness  and 
prosperity  of  the  Government  and  French  people. 

Written  at  Washington,  the  2yth  of  March,  1902. 

Your  Good  Friend, 

THEODORE  ROOSEVELT 
By  the  President 

JOHN  HAY 

The  Secretary  of  State 


32  International  Correspondence 

[Translation] 
IvETTRE  DU  PRESIDENT  ROOSEVEI/T 

Theodore  Roosevelt,  President  des  Etats-Unis  d'Amerique,  a  son  Excel 
lence  Emile  Loubet,  President  de  la  Republique  Fran$aise 

GRAND  ET  BON  AMI:  J'ai  1'honneur  de  vous  informer  que  le  Congres 
des  Etats-Unis  a  adopte"  une  resolution  conjointe  m'autorisant  et  m'enga 
geant  a  adresser  au  Gouvernement  et  au  peuple  francais  une  invitation 
cordiale  a  s'unir  au  peuple  et  au  Gouvernement  des  Etats-Unis  en  vue  de 
proce"der,  d'une  fa£on  digne  et  convenable,  a  1' inauguration  du  monument 
du  Marechal  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  dans  la  ville  de  Washington,  le  24*  jour 
du  mois  de  mai  1902.  Je  me  trouve,  en  consequence,  charge"  de  l'agre"able 
devoir  de  transmettre  cette  invitation  au  Gouvernement  et  au  peuple  fran- 
£ais,  au  nom  du  Gouvernement  et  du  peuple  des  Etats-Unis. 

Je  suis  persuade  que  Votre  Excellence  verra  dans  cette  demarche  une 
nouvelle  preuve  de  la  gratitude  persistante  du  Gouvernement  et  du  peuple 
ame"ricains  pour  les  services  inappreciables  de  la  France  pendant  la  guerre 
de  notre  Revolution,  et  que  cette  circonstance  servira  a  resserrer  plus 
etroitement  encore  les  liens  qui,  depuis  cette  epoque,  ont  uni  les  deux 
pays. 

Je  saisis  cette  occasion  pour  assurer  Votre  Excellence  des  voeux  ardents 
que  je  forme  pour  son  bonheur  et  sa  prosperite,  ainsi  que  pour  le  bonheur 
et  la  prosperite  du  Gouvernement  et  du  peuple  francais. 

Fvcrit  a  Washington,  le  27  mars  1902. 
Votre  bon  ami, 

THEODORE  ROOSEVELT 

Par  le  President 

JOHN  HAY 

Le  Secretaire  d>  Etat 

PRESIDENT   LOUBET 'S    REPLY. 

The  President  of  France  replied  to  the  invitation  from  the 
President  of  the  United  States  as  follows: 

Your  Excellency  has  been  pleased  to  inform  me  that,  in  virtue  of  a  joint 
resolution  of  Congress,  you  have  been  charged  to  invite  the  French  Gov 
ernment  and  people  to  join  the  Government  and  people  of  the  United 
States  in  inaugurating,  on  the  24th  of  May  next,  the  monument  erected 
to  the  memory  of  Marshal  DE  ROCHAMBEAU. 

I  gladly  accept  this  invitation  in  the  name  of  the  Government  of  the 
Republic  and  in  that  of  the  entire  French  people. 

In  fraternally  taking  part  in  this  solemnity  the  American  nation  once 
more  gives  evidence  of  its  remembrance  of  those  French  citizens  who 


International  Correspondence  33 

shared  its  dangers  and  glory  in  its  struggle  for  independence;  it  has,  fur 
thermore,  desired  to  confirm  the  friendship  and  draw  still  closer  the  bonds 
which  since  that  most  memorable  period  have  united  our  two  countries. 
France  will  hail  this  manifestation  with  deep  emotion. 

In  tendering  you,  in  her  name,  her  sincerest  thanks,  I  beg  you  to  accept, 
dear  and  great  friend,  the  fervent  wishes  which  I  entertain  for  Your  Excel 
lency's  own  happiness  and  for  the  prosperity  of  the  United  States  of 
America. 

ROCHAMBEAU    AND    LAFAYETTE 

At  the  same  time  the  Secretary  of  State  transmitted  under 
the  same  authority,  through  Ambassador  Porter,  a  letter  in  the 
name  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  extending  to  Count 
Rene  de  Rochambeau,  for  the  family  of  "Count  de  Rocham- 
beau,"  a  cordial  invitation  to  unite  with  the  Government  and 
people  of  the  United  States  in  a  fit  and  appropriate  dedication 
of  the  monument  of  Marshal  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  to  be  unveiled 
in  the  city  of  Washington  on  May  24,  1902. 

A  similar  letter  with  appropriate  changes  was  sent  at  the 
same  time  to  M.  Gaston  de  Sahune  de  Lafayette. 

LOUBET  ACCEPTS 

Having  complied  with  the  directions  of  the  Secretary  of  State 
on  April  16,  Ambassador  Porter  cabled  to  Secretary  Hay: 

France  decides  to  send  to  Washington  a  general  and  admiral,  with  couple 
of  aids  each,  two  officers  from  foreign  office  who  speak  English,  and  a  war 
ship.  Count  Rochambeau  and  M.  de  Sahune  de  Lafayette  and  wives  will 
attend,  arriving  New  York  i8th  (May). 

ROCHAMBEAU   AND   LAFAYETTE   REPRESENTED 

With  regard  to  the  Lafayette  family,  M.  Gaston  de  Sahune  de 
Lafayette  and  his  wife  not  being  able  to  proceed  to  the  United 
States,  the  invitation  was  accepted  for  M.  Paul  de  Sahune  de 
Lafayette,  then  living  in  the  United  States,  who  spoke  English, 
and  a  brother  of  M.  Gaston  de  Sahune  de  Lafayette. 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-i 3 


SITE 


The  ground  upon  which  the  monument  stands  is  the  most 
eligibly  situated  within  the  limits  of  the  American  capital.  It 
occupies  the  southwest  angle  of  a  park,  on  the  corresponding 
corner  of  which  on  the  east  is  the  bronze  effigy  of  another 
Frenchman,  Lafayette,  who  did  more  than  any  other  one  man 
to  secure  the  presence  of  ROCHAMBKAU  and  his  French  troops 
in  America. 

On  the  same  angles  on  the  north  it  is  proposed  to  erect  the 
image  in  bronze  of  the  brave  Pulaski,  the  Pole,  on  the  one 
hand,  and  of  Steuben,  the  Prussian,  the  '  '  drillmaster  "  of  the 
Continental  Army,  on  the  other. 

Thus,  when  the  number  shall  be  complete,  have  we  gathered 
in  scenic  grouping,  with  the  most  picturesque  surroundings  of 
nature  and  art  and  within  sight  of  the  home  of  the  Executive 
Authority  of  the  Republic,  the  four  typical  men  of  our  foreign 
friends  in  the  desperate  struggle. 

The  park  itself,  named  after  the  Frenchman,  Lafayette,  whom 
all  Americans  revere,  is  the  finest  in  the  city  in  location,  adorn 
ment,  and  historic  memories.  On  the  south,  upon  which  the 
figure  of  ROCHAMBEAU  faces,  extends  the  broad  sweep  of  Penn 
sylvania  avenue,  planned  for  spectacular  events  of  the  Govern 
ment,  with  the  White  House  beyond,  seen  in  glimpses  among 
beautiful  trees  of  the  choicest  varieties  and  flanked  on  one  side 
by  the  classic  seat  of  the  money  power  of  the  Government  and 
on  the  other  by  the  modern  housing  of  the  offices  of  State,  War, 
and  Navy. 

The  memory  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  of  the  officers  and  men 
associated  with  him  in  execution  of  the  duty  which  they  were 
.sent  to  perform,  therefore  finds  in  the  location  selected  every 
thing  to  commend. 

35 


STATUE  OF  COMTE  DE  ROCHAMBEAU 
From  the  Southwest 


Fr< 

great  a<' . 
from  thr 
strea 
and  '  and 

It  compi  »f  the  commander  in  chief  of  the  troops 

MONUMENT  OF  ROCHAMBEAU 

under  From  thesouthwest  ure  is  about  8  feet  8  inches 

ef,  repr<  'he  "Army  of  Liberty,"  a 

statue  u 

«:W  a<>  feet. 

IIIOIIUTIK- 

Laf .  -)site  aiu; 


n  arm? 

woi  '•• 

emblem;; 
the  God 


STATUE  OF  COMTE  DE  ROCH. 
From  the  Southwest 


MONUMENT 


From  its  position  the  monument  of  ROCHAMBEAU  shows  to 
great  advantage  in  three  directions,  and  therefore  is  constantly 
from  three  points  within  the  range  of  vision  of  the  never-ending 
stream  of  human  life  passing  to  and  fro  between  the  eastern 
and  western  sections  of  the  busiest  quarters  of  the  official  and 
mercantile  portions  of  the  city. 

It  comprises  a  statue  of  the  commander  in  chief  of  the  troops 
of  Louis  XVI,  sent  to  assist  the  forces  of  the  American  States 
under  General  Washington.  The  figure  is  about  8  feet  8  inches 
in  height,  in  high  relief,  representing  the  "Army  of  Liberty,"  a 
replica  of  the  heioic  statue  unveiled  at  Vendome,  France  (the 
birthplace  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  of  American  fame),  June  4,  1900, 
and  stands  on  a  stone  pedestal  upon  -a  subbase  of  granite  about 
12  feet  high,  a  total  of  20  feet.  The  pedestal  is  different  in 
design  from  that  at  Vendome,  owing  to  the  importance  of  the 
monument  complete  bearing  symmetrical  relations  to  that  of 
Lafayette  in  the  opposite  angle  of  the  same  park. 

ROCHAMBEAU  in  the  uniform  of  his  rank,  in  heroic  proportions, 
is  represented  erect,  in  an  attitude  of  action,  his  right  arm 
extended  towrard  the  horizon,  in  gesture  of  command,  and  by  a 
happy  coincidence  toward  the  home  and  tomb  of  his  friend, 
companion  in  arms,  arid  chief,  Washington.  In  his  left  hand 
he  holds  a  plan  of  the  field  of  Yorktown.  At  his  feet  rests  the 
breech  of  a  cannon  on  which  lies  a  branch  of  laurel. 

On  the  south  or  front  of  the  cap  of  the  base  is  the  simple 
word  '  '  ROCHAMBEAU."  At  the  base  of  the  statue  is  the  bronze 
emblematical  group,  a  subsidiary  bronze  figure  which  represents 
the  Goddess  of  Liberty  stepping  from  a  boat,  touching  sup 
posedly  on  the  shores  of  America.  In  her  left  hand  she  holds 

37 


38  The  Monument 

aloft  a  flagstaff  displaying  the  Stars  and  Stripes  and  colors  of 
France,  which  she  gathers  in  graceful  folds  near  the  top  in  the 
act  of  landing.  In  her  left  hand  she  grasps  a  drawn  sword 
defending  a  war  eagle  with  extended  wings,  which  clutches  in 
its  left  talon  a  shield  bearing  the  13  stars  and  stripes  of  the 
original  States,  thus  typifying  the  "alliance" — the  only  one 
ever  entered  into  by  the  United  States. 

On  the  east  face  of  the  die,  on  a  fanciful  shield  oval  in  design, 
is  the.  escutcheon  of  ROCHAMBKAU,  three  stars;  two  and  one  and 
a  chevron  and  crown  for  crest;  on  the  west  are  the  arms  of  the 
Bourbon  family,  the  lilies;  two  and  one  surmounted  by  a  crown. 

The  north  side  of  the  pedestal  bears  these  words0 — 

WE   HAVE   BEEN 
CONTEMPORARIES   AND    FELLOW-WORKERS   IN   THE   CAUSE 

OF   LIBERTY 
AND  WE  HAVE   LIVED  TOGETHER 

AS   BROTHERS   SHOULD   DO 
IN    HARMONIOUS    FRIENDSHIP 

And  beneath — 

BY   THE   CONGRESS,    MAY    XXIV,    MDCCCCII 

The  original  letter  was  discovered  in  the  archives  of  the 
Chateau  Rochambeau  and  was  brought  to  the  United  States  by 
the  grand  nephew  of  the  Marshal.  A  copy  of  it  is  in  possession 
of  the  Government  at  Washington.  The  pedestal  is  the  work  of 
L,.  Laurent,  architect.  The  casting  by  Val  d'Osne. 

The  artist  seeks  to  render,  as  much  by  the  manner  of  the 
person  as  by  the  expression  of  the  face,  the  characteristic 
traits  of  this  interesting  figure  among  the  last  marshals  of  the 
ancient  monarchy. 

It  was  the  sculptor's  aim  to  represent  ROCHAMBEAU  as  he 
was,  'the  full  type  of  the  soldier  of  the  old  regime. 

Although  his  birth,  accomplishments,  and  training  appealed 
to  the  brilliant  indolence  of  court  life,  he  always  preferred  the 
rude  hazard  of  distant  campaigns. 

« Washington  to  ROCHAMBEAU,  February  i,  1784. 


- 


const  d< 


The 

rnendati' 
enlarged 
the  best 


M.  FERNAND  HAMAR 
of  his  ^-fjculptor  of  the  Monument  of  Comte  de  Rochambeau 

of  fine  arts,  \\  ; 
ited  at  the  ^ 

distinguis!  *>*fl  erf 

Vendome  cha 
of  Marshal  i; 

years  later  the  (rovernme!  >  him 

to  execute  another  after   th  .<r-     to  correspond    in 

t*^  in  Lafayettr 


The  Monument  39 

In  the  physiognomy  of  his  hero  the  sculptor  expresses  also 
the  idea  of  loyalty,  honesty,  and  regard  for  order  and  disci 
pline,  to  which,  as  history  records,  the  Congress  at  Philadelphia 
rendered  homage  when  the  subject  passed  through  that  city. 

The  figure  is  also  designed  to  give  expression  to  the  man 
considered  by  the  King  best  qualified  to  carry  out  his  purposes 
in  sending  aid  to  the  ' '  insurgents ' '  in  America. 

WORK   APPROVED 

The  original  at  Vendome  was  received  with  the  highest  com 
mendation  by  the  experts  of  the  French  world  of  art.  The 
enlarged  reproduction  receives  the  same  favorable  judgment  of 
the  best  authorities  in  America. 

SCULPTOR 

The  author  of  the  monument,  a  native  of  Vendome,  the  birth 
place  of  his  subject,  was  born  in  1869.  He  entered  the  school 
of  fine  arts,  having  Cavalier  and  Barras  as  masters.  He  exhib 
ited  at  the  Salon  of  the  Champs  Klysses,  where  he  frequently 
distinguished  himself.  In  1900  the  committee  of  the  town  of 
Vendome  charged  him  to  execute  a  monument  to  the  memory 
of  Marshal  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  to  adorn  his  native  town.  Two 
years  later  the  Government  of  the  United  States  engaged  him 
to  execute  another  after  the  same  design,  to  correspond  in 
dimensions  to  that  of  Marquis  de  Lafayette  in  Lafayette  Park 
at  Washington. 


SCHEDULE  OF  EVENTS 

CONNECTED  WITH 

THE  UNVEILING  OF  THE  MONUMENT  OF 
ROCHAMBEAU 


HONORS  TO  THE  FRENCH  MISSION 

HOSPITALITIES  TO  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE  FAMILIES 

OF  ROCHAMBEAU  AND  LAFAYETTE 

"GUESTS  OF  THE  NATION" 


41 


EVENTS  OF  THE  DAY 

SATURDAY,  MAY  17 


ARRIVAL  OF  THE  CIVIL  "GUESTS 
AT  NEW  YORK 


42 


/1AHOOH  3d  3TMCO  .3M 


RENE,  COMTE  DE  ROCHAMBEAU 

Born  1866,  second  son  of  Marquis  and  Marquise  de  Rochambeau,  who  in  1881  were  the 
guests  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States  during  the  celebration  of  the  centennial 
of  the  surrender  of  the  British  army  at  Yorktowri.  He  Is  theTiead  of  the  family  through 
the  death  of  his  elder  brother  and  during  the  minority  of  his  nephew.  He  has  taken 
the  grades  of  the  faculty  of  letters,  sciences,  and  law  of  Paris.  At  one  time  he  contem 
plated  a  diplomatic  career,  which,  however,  was  abandoned  for  letters  and  agriculture. 
He  married  in  1894  Mademoiselle  Rouxeh 


ARRIVAL  OF  THE  CIVIL  "GUESTS" 


The  steamer  Touraine,  of  La  Compagnie  Generale  Trans- 
Atlantique,  which  arrived  at  her  pier  in  New  York  on  Saturday, 
May  17,  1902,  had  among  her  passengers  — 

Comte  Rene  and  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau,  representing  the  family  of 
the  commander  in  chief  of  the  auxiliary  army  of  France  in  the  American 
Revolution. 

La  Comtesse  de  Chambrun,  formerly  Miss  Longworth,  of  Cincinnati, 
wife  of  the  older  brother  of  Vicomte  de  Chambrun. 

M.  Croiset,  member  of  the  French  Institute,  dean  of  the  Faculty  of  Letters 
of  Paris. 

M.  Lagrave,  French  commissioner-general  to  the  Louisiana  Purchase 
Exposition,  representing  the  ministry  of  commerce. 

M.  Jean  Guillemin,  subdirector  of  the  cabinet  of  the  foreign  minister. 

M.  Renouard,  painter  and  engraver,  representing  the  ministry  of  public 
instruction. 

M.  Robert  de  Billy,  secretary  of  embassy. 

M.  Fernand  Hamar,  sculptor  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  statue. 

M.  Hamar,  pere. 

Upon  the  signaling  of  the  Touraine  from  the  Highlands, 
M.  Jules  Bceufve,  chancellor  of  the  French  embassy  at  Wash 
ington,  and  Mr.  J.  B.  Reynolds,  secretary  to  the  mayor  of  New 
York,  proceeded  down  the  bay,  and  going  aboard  the  Touraine 
extended  first  greetings  to  the  incoming  guests  of  the  nation. 

At  the  pier  the  distinguished  party  was  met  by  M.  Bruwaert, 
French  consul-general  at  New  York,  Comte  Sahune  de  Lafayette, 
and  several  others. 

43 


EVENTS  OF  THE  DAY 

MONDAY,  MAY  19 


COMTESSE  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  AND  THE 
DAUGHTERS  OF  THE  AMERICAN  REVO 
LUTION— A  FESTIVE  "ALLIANCE"  AT 
THE  UNION  LEAGUE 


44 


inrcet  deSahune  Du  Motier 


THE  COUNTED 


At  3  o'clock  in  the  after, 
tesse  de  Rochainoeau  n 
Society  of  the  Daughters  of 
by  Mrs.  Charles  W.  FairhanV 

Mrs.  8}'lvanus  Reed,  regt  nt 
Mrs.  Althea  R.  Bedle,  of   N- 
National  COMTE   DE  LAFAYETTE 

Paul-Marie  Joseph  de  Pourci 

' 

Former  officer  of  cavalry,  Chevalier  of  the  Legion  of  Honor,  for  campaigns  in  Senegal 
and  the  French  Sudan;  great  grandson  of  General  I^afayette  and  brother  of  the  Marquis 
de  lyafayette,  actual  head  of  the  name  and  arms  of  the  family  of  the  General. 

>f  the  Mi) 

The  ladies  were  met  by  i.h<e  Comtc  *k 
soon  after  by  the  Comte  : 

Mrs.   Sylvauus  Reed,   fo 
said: 

"iame  la  C 
• 

itne  of  th-i 

century  and  a  quarter  pr< 
American  citi/ 

In  the  darkt-.st  hour  of 
light  and 
Comte  i>; 
Rhode  I  si.-. 
he  joined. 

We  rejoie.  :.he  nation    h 

unveiled  b  •  . 

whose  friendsh 
famous  Octol  ••>.••. 
to  the  en  I 


THE  COUNTESS  AND  "THE  DAUGHTERS" 


At  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  Monday,  May  19,  the  Com- 
tesse  de  Rochambeau  received  a  delegation  from  the  National 
Society  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution  appointed 
by  Mrs.  Charles  W.  Fairbanks,  president-general,  consisting  of— 

Mrs.  Sylvanus  Reed,  regent  of  the  Manhattan  Chapter,  New  York. 

Mrs.  Althea  R.  Bedle,  of  New  Jersey,  vice  president-general  of  the 
National  Society. 

Mrs.  J.  Heron  Grossman,  of  Tarrytown,  N.  Y.,  vice  president-general. 

Mrs.  S.  V.  White,  regent  of  the  Fort  Greene  Chapter. 

Miss  Mary  Van  Buren  Vanderpool,  regent  of  the  Mary  Washington 
Chapter. 

Mrs.  Frederick  Hasbrouck,  regent  of  the  Knickerbocker  Chapter. 

Mrs.  A.  G.  Mills,  of  the  Mary  Washington  Chapter. 

The  ladies  were  met  by  the  Comte  de  Lafayette,  followed 
soon  after  by  the  Comte  and  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau. 

Mrs.  Sylvanus  Reed,  for  the  society,  in  words  of  greeting 
said: 

Madame  la  Comtesse:  Mrs.  Fairbanks,  president-general  of  the  National 
Society  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  has  delegated  us  to 
welcome,  in  the  name  of  that  society,  one  whose  name  has  been  for  a 
century  and  a  quarter  pronounced  from  childhood  with  gratitude  by  every 
American  citizen. 

In  the  darkest  hour  of  the  war  for  American  Independence  a  gleam  of 
light  and  hope  cheered  the  heart  of  Washington  and  his  army,  when  the 
Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  arrived  and  landed  his  troops  on  the  shores  of 
Rhode  Island,  where  he  was  welcomed  by  General  Sullivan,  whose  forces 
he  joined. 

We  rejoice  that  the  statue  which  the  nation  has  erected  should  be 
unveiled  by  a  lady  who  bears  his  name  and  who  represents  the  nation 
whose  friendship  has  been  our  pride  and  tower  of  strength  since  that 
famous  October  day.  May  the  two  great  Republics  of  the  world  be  allied 
to  the  end  of  time. 

45 


46  The  Countess  and  "The  Daughters" 

The  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau  in  response  said : 

My  English  may  not  be  very  understandable,  but  I  hope  my  gratitude 
and  respect  for  my  guests  and  the  country  they  represent  will  be.  I  may 
also  thank  you  and  your  countrymen  in  behalf  of  my  husband.  We  wish 
we  could  stay  longer  in  your  delightful  city.  If  any  of  you  are  ever  in 
France  we  shall  be  most  pleased  to  see  you  at  our  home. 

A  delegation  from  the  French  Society  of  ROCHAMBEAU  of  New 
York,  in  uniform,  came  in  soon  after  to  pay  respects. 

• 

FESTIVE  '/ALLIANCE"  AT  THE  UNION  LEAGUE 

In  the  evening  Cornelius  N.  Bliss,  of  the  Cabinet  of  President 
McKinley,  president  of  the  Union  League,  entertained  at  the 
clubhouse  Gen.  Horace  Porter,  American  ambassador  to  France, 
and  the  French  visitors  as  guests  of  honor  at  dinner. 

In  addition  to  the  host  and  General  Porter,  there  were 
present — 

Comte  Rene  de  Rochambeau  Abram  S.  Hewitt 

M.  Croiset  .  Levi  P.  Morton 

M.  Michel  Lagrave  Mayor  Low 

M.  Guillemin  Whitelaw  Reid 

M.  de  Billy  Morris  K.  Jessup 

Vicomte  de  Chambrun  Franklin  Murphy 

M.  Edmund  Bruwaert  Nevada  N.  Stranahan 
Commander      Raymond     Rodgers,    Dr.  Nicholas  Murray  Butler 

U.  S.  Navy  J.  Edward  Simmons 

Comte  Sahune  de  Lafayette  John  Claflin 

John  W.  Griggs  John  S.  Kennedy 

Thomas  L.  James  Charles  Stewart  Smith 

James  W.  Alexander  Edward  D.  Adams 

George  G.  Haven  Robert  W.  De  Forest 

John  A.  McCall  James  G.  Cannon 

Herbert  P.  Brown  George  R.  Sheldon 

George  W.  Perkins  L.  C.  Weir 

Charles  W.  Gould  John  A.  Sleicher 

James  W.  Beekman  F.  C.  Wagner 

Thomas  H.  Wood  George  S.  Terry 

Louis  Stern  Cornelius  N.  Bliss 
Charles  A  Moore 


EVENTS  OF  THE  DAY 

TUESDAY,  MAY  20 


SALUT!  "LE  GAUIvOIS" 
THE  "GUESTS"  AT  WASHINGTON 


48 


SAIL  AHOY! 


On  the  m  ;    May  20,   the   French   armored   erv 

Gaulois,  v  command!:  a  lx>ard  the 

members  of  and  Naval  Mission,  sent  by  President 

L/oubet  in   i  to  the  invitation  of  the  Government  of 

the  United  S  resent  the  "French  Government  and 

people''  at  *  < -!'  the  ROCTIAMBKAU  monument,  ap- 

•  the  offing  off  the  capes  of  Virginia  at  the  entrance  to 

ike  Bay.      The  A    irrican  escorting  squadron,  in  wait- 

of  the  cruiser  Olympia, 

LE  CUIRASSE  D'ESCADRE  "LE  GAULOIS"     ^  Q£  ^  ^^ 

Atlantic(/S^Mf« commun igu*epar  M-  Sf^^B&OR    commanding, 
steamed  out  in  greo  the  Frenchman. 

riONAJ.    HONORS 

The  moment  the  '  *.r\\.  the  Olympia  sent  up  to 

the  topmast  the  nati>  ;s  (n    France  and  fired  a  national 

21  gui:  iri  promptly  sent  op  the  col- 

^  ::ii  equal  number 

gun-  Mjbama    successively    i 

ir  honors,  ti  u  reciprocating. 

B  soon   as  the   6.  /  ^m-   near   enough  K 

Higginson,  putting  pi  launch,  boarded  th 

Fournier.  the 

officer,  and  sa  -.s  of  the  Mission. 

The  ied  aboard  his  flagship  and 

the  great   in.;  \\>^   inward  at  7  a.  lit 

the  cape  ns  leading,  the  A 

S.  i  ••  * 


SAIL  AHOY! 


On  the  morning  of  May  20,  the  French  armored  cruiser 
Gaulois,  Captain  de  Surgy  commanding,  having  on  board  the 
members  of  the  Military  and  Naval  Mission,  sent  by  President 
L,oubet  in  response  to  the  invitation  of  the  Government  of 
the  United  States  to  represent  the  '  '  French  Government  and 
people"  at  the  unveiling  of  the  ROCHAMBKAU  monument,  ap 
peared  in  the  offing  off  the  capes  of  Virginia  at  the  entrance  to 
Chesapeake  Bay.  The  American  escorting  squadron,  in  wait 
ing  outside  since  Sunday,  consisting  of  the  cruiser  Olympia, 
flagship,  and  battle  ships  Kearsarge  and  Alabama,  of  the  North 
Atlantic  Squadron,  Rear-  Admiral  Higginson  commanding, 
steamed  out  in  greeting  to  the  Frenchman. 

INTERNATIONAL    HONORS 

The  moment  the  Gaulois  was  sighted,  the  Olympia  sent  up  to 
the  topmast  the  national  colors  of  France  and  fired  a  national 
salute  of  21  guns.  The  Frenchman  promptly  sent  up  the  col 
ors  of  the  United  States,  firing  an  equal  number  of  responsive 
guns.  The  Kearsarge  and  Alabama  successively  extended 
similar  honors,  the  Frenchman  reciprocating. 

As  soon  as  the  Gaidois  came  near  enough  Rear-Admiral 
Higginson,  putting  off  in  his  launch,  boarded  the  Gaulois,  to 
pay  his  respects  to  Vice-  Admiral  Fournier,  the  senior  naval 
officer,  and  salute  the  other  members  of  the  Mission. 

The  American  Rear-  Admiral  returned  aboard  his  flagship  and 
the  great  machines  of  war  heading  inward  at  7  a.  m.  passed 
the  capes  in  single  column,  the  Gaulois  leading,  the  American 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1  -  4  49 


50  On  to   Washington 

squadron  following  in  the  order  of  their  salute.  Upon  clearing 
the  entrance  the  ships  in  the  same  formation  pointed  up  the  bay 
at  moderate  speed,  plowing  the  very  waters  and  in  sight  or  the 
very  shores  where  De  Grasse  with  his  gallant  men  behind  the 
guns  of  France  reached  conclusions  with  Graves  on  the  sea  and 
held  Cornwallis  bottled  up  in  the  bay. 

At  4  p.  m.  the  squadron  and  its  charge  anchored  for  the  night 
off  Cove  Point  at  the  mouth  of  the  Patuxent  River,  Maryland. 

As  a  mark  of  recognition  of  the  international  character  of 
the  event  and  as  an  evidence  of  appreciation  of  the  significance 
of  the  commemoration,  the  French  Government  sent  its  repre 
sentatives  to  the  shores  of  America  in  a  vessel  of  the  best  type 
of  modern  construction  in  a  navy  so  celebrated  for  its  partici 
pation  in  American  affairs  a  century  and  a  quarter  ago. 

Aside  from  the  ceremonial  prestige  of  its  presence,  the  Gaulois 
constituted  an  object  lesson  in  the  naval  architecture  of  the 
Republic  of  France  at  the  beginning  of  the  twentieth,  as  Le 
Languedoc,  La  Bourgogne,  and  La  Ville  de  Paris  stood  for  the 
best  types  afloat  toward  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

ON   TO   WASHINGTON 

The  unofficial  guests  of  the  nation,  who  had  been  enjoy 
ing  many  quiet  hospitalities  among  their  friends  in  New  York, 
departed  from  New  York  for  Washington  in  a  special  car. 
On  the  way  they  tarried  a  few  hours  at  Philadelphia,  the  Comte 
and  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau  to  attend  a  luncheon  in  their 
honor  by  personal  friends,  the  others  meanwhile  to  visit  Inde 
pendence  Hall,  the  United  States  Mint,  Fairmount  Park,  and 
other  points  of  interest,  continuing  the  journey  at  5.25  p.  m., 
reaching  their  destination  at  8.30  p.  m. 

As  the  party  alighted  at  the  Washington  station,  they  were 
met  by  M.  Jules  Boeufve,  chancellor  of  the  French  embassy,  and 
Mr.  Edwin  Morgan,  secretary  to  the  President's  commission 
who  escorted  them  to  their  place  of  residence  while  in  the  city. 

Almost  simultaneously  appeared  M.  Jules  Cambon,  ambas 
sador,  and  suite  of  the  French  embassy  staff  to  give  cordial 
greeting  to  their  distinguished  countrymen. 


EVENTS  OF  THE  DAY 

WEDNESDAY,  MAY  21 


LE  GAULOIS  AT  ANNAPOLIS— NAVAL 
HONORS  — PRESIDENT'S  COMMISSION 
WELCOMES  THE  FRENCH  MISSION- 
AUTHORITIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 
NAVAL  ACADEMY  TENDER  THE  COUR 
TESIES  OF  THE  STATION  IN  BEHALF 
OF  THE  U.  S.  NAVY— DEPUTATION 
FROM  THE  FRENCH  EMBASSY  EXTEND 
CORDIAL  GREETINGS  TO  THEIR 
COUNTRYMEN 


(CoL.THEO.A.BINGHAMU.S.A 


Tr 


At  9  o'clock  01. 
anchor  and  contim, 
age,  about  5  mi 
Annapolis,  Md 
first  mode^ 
American  waters. 


THE  PRESIDENT'S  COMMISSION 

HERBERT  H.  D.  PEJRCE  Col.  THEODORE  A.  BINGHAM 

Third  A  ssista  nt  Secretary  of  State  U.  S.  A  rmy 

'111    the         Commander  RAYMOND  P.  RODGERS 

first-class  battle  ship  IndF'  S'  Navy 

ing  training  ship  Chesapca: 

naval  tug  Standish,  to' 

boat   (No.   54)   Holland.  +^ 

together  with  the  escortir  .  carried 

their  main  batteries  ami  .-<:  ^bout  5 

a^  ted  horst 

T):  •  :n  speri 

it  sunsl;:  .;id  wat< 


In  am  of 

sion,  representing  th< 
9.15  a.  m.: 

Mr.  Herbert  II   ]; 
Col.  Tb 
Commander 


;:SIDENT 

al  of  the 
nt,  arrive 


THE  "GAULOIS"  AT  ANNAPOLIS 


At  9  o'clock  on  the  following  morning  the  vessels  weighed 
anchor  and  continued  their  voyage  to  their  prearranged  anchor 
age,  about  5  miles  below  the  United  States  Naval  Academy  at 
Annapolis,  Md.,  which  they  reached  at  n  a.  m.  This  was  the 
first  modern  French  battle  ship  of  the  first  class  ever  seen  in 
American  waters. 

PRESTIGE  OF  THE  STATES 

At  the  time  there  was  quite  a  representation  of  the  American 
Navy  in  the  roads  off  the  waters  of  the  Severn,  including  the 
first-class  battle  ship  Indiana,  auxiliary  cruiser  Gloucester,  sail 
ing  training  ship  Chesapeake,  double-turretted  monitor  Terror, 
naval  tug  Standish,  torpedo  boat  (No.  16)  Gwin,  submarine 
boat  (No.  54)  Holland,  and  dispatch  boat  Dolphin.  These, 
together  with  the  escorting  squadron,  carried  77  great  guns  in 
their  main  batteries  and  represented  about  50,000  tonnage  and 
as  much  indicated  horsepower. 

This  warlike  scene  was  enhanced  in  spectacular  effect  by  the 
bright  sunshine  above  and  the  placid  waters  beneath. 

ARRIVAL  OF  THE  PRESIDENT'S  COMMISSION 

In  anticipation  of  the  arrival  of  the  Gaulois,  the  commis 
sion,  representing  the  President,  arrived  from  Washington  at 
9.15  a.  m.: 

Mr.  Herbert  H  D.  Peirce,  Third  Assistant  Secretary  of  State,  chairman; 
Col.  Theodore  A.  Bingham,  U.  S.  Army,  aid  to  the  President; 
Commander  Raymond  P.  Rodgers,  U.  S.  Navy; 

53 


54  The  "  Gaulois "  at  Annapolis 

who  were  accompanied  by— 

M.  Pierre  de  Margerie,  counselor; 
Capt.  Paul  Vignal,  military  attache"; 

Lieutenant-Commander  Comte  de  Faramond,  naval  attache"; 
M.  .Louis  Hermite,  attache; 

all  of  the  French  embassy. 

The  party  at  once  drove  to  the  wharf,  where  they  embarked 
on  the  dispatch  boat  Dolphin,  Capt.  Albert  Gleaves. 

At  1 1 .30  a.  m.  the  Dolphin,  getting  under  way,  steamed  slowly 
toward  the  Gaulois,  which,  with  the  escort  ships,  was  off  Green- 
berry  Point  light-house,  about  5  miles  distant.  Her  jack  at  the 
moment  was  fluttering  at  the  bow,  the  signal  of  anchoring,  let 
ting  go  at  12.50  meridian  as  the  Dolphin  with  her  ceremonial 
commission  came  up. 

The  escort  anchored  in  position,  the  Olympia,  flagship,  200 
yards  on  the  bow  of  the  Gaulois,  the  Alabama  and  Kearsarge 
taking  berths  below  the  Olympia  at  points  equidistant.  • 

NAVAL   COURTESIES 

The  battle  ship  Indiana,  which  lay  between  Annapolis  and 
the  light-house,  opened  the  ceremonial  function  by  hoisting  a 
signal.  The  Alabama  responded  with  a  signal,  whereupon 
the  Gaulois  fired  a  national  salute  of  2 1  guns,  followed  by  her 
band  playing  ' '  Le  Marseillaise. ' ' 

At  the  conclusion  of  these  preliminaries  the  President's  com 
mission,  in  a  launch  from  the  Dolphin,  proceeded  to  the  Gaulois, 
which  as  they  approached  fired  a  salute  of  15  guns. 

As  they  stepped  upon  the  deck  of  the  Gaulois  they  wrere 
greeted  by  General  Brugere,  general  of  division,  vice-president 
of  the  supreme  council  of  war,  and  Vice- Admiral  Fournier, 
inspector-general  of  the  navy. 

The  other  members  of  the  Mission  were  then  presented — 

General  Chalendar,  commander  of  the  Fourth  Infantry  Brigade. 

Captain  de  Surgy,  commanding  the  armored  cruiser  Gaulois. 

Lieut.  Col.  Meaux  Saint-Marc,  aid-de-camp  and  personal  representative 
of  the  President  of  the  French  Republic,  M.  Loubet. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Hermite,  commander  of  the  Sixth  Foot  Artillery. 

Major  Berthelot,  aid-de-camp  to  General  Brugere. 


n 

Lieut.  Andre"  Sauvaire-J<". 

Lieu;  e  le  Jay,  ai 

Lieut.  I-  vimilien  d.     k 
Admiral  ! 

Capt.  dt  de  Saint- :\ 

Capt.  Etienn  ,u,  aid-de- 

Cap*.  iche"  of  the  ger 

After  an  :  greetin: 

the  ship's  cabin,  which  was  tastr 
foliage,  and  fruits.      Here  more 

Mr.  Peirce,  9]  for  the  ! 

said : 

GENERAL:  This  commission  now  present  ha* 
Ro<> 

UEUT.  COL.  MEAUX  SAINT-MARC  (PAUL  HENRI  FRANCIS) 
country 

Personal  representative  of  the  President  of  France 

Born  1850,  at  lyivry,  Department  of  Seine  et  Oise,  in  the  north  of  France;  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  infantry  (territorial);  officer  of  ordnance  to  the  President  of  the  Republic, 
and  personal  representative  of  the  President  of  France  to  the  unveiling  of  the 
ROCHAMBRAU  monument.  ;1Jd: 

GENTLEMEN:  I  thank  :he  name 

French  people  for  the  I  me  which 

is  a  very  great  pleasure  .{  my  colh    . 

occasion  of  internation  is  the  u 

monument,  and  I  am  sur 
recollection  of  our  stay  in  j  ;  dst. 

Since  our  departu 

1  henchman  in 
that 
stricken  fellow-countr\ 

•i  for  your  gent  >me. 

The    commissior  a    plea, 

departure, 
etiquette  to  the 

At  a  later  hour 
and  their  suite 
commission,   after  which 

Colonel 
the  events  of  ti 


IHM3H  JUAT)  :>HAM-TV1IA8  XUA3M 


• 

KJHf 

>  . ' 


The  "  Gaulois"  at  Annapolis  55 

Lieut.  Andre"  Sauvaire-Jourdain,  aid-de-camp  to  Vice-Admiral  Fournier. 
Lieut.  Gustave  le  Jay,  aid-de-camp  to  Vice-Admiral  Fournier. 
Lieut.  Baron   Maximilien  de  Reinach  de  Werth,  aid-de-camp  to  Vice- 
Admiral  Fournier. 

Capt.  de  Pouilloiie  de  Saint-Marc,  captain  of  artillery. 

Capt.  Etienne  Filloneau,  aid-de-camp  to  General  Brugere. 

Captain  Lasson,  attache"  of  the  general  staff  of  the  governor  of  Paris. 

After  an  exchange  of  greetings  the  entire  party  withdrew  to 
the  ship's  cabin,  which  was  tastefully  decorated  with  flowers, 
foliage,  and  fruits.  Here  more  formal  ceremonies  were  had. 

Mr.  Peirce,  speaking  for  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
said: 

GENERAL:  This  commission  now  present  has  been  charged  by  President 
Roosevelt  to  welcome  you  and  your  colleagues  to  the  United  States  in  his 
name  and  to  express  to  you  his  hope  that  you  will  enjoy  your  stay  in  our 
country  and  carry  away  with  you  an  agreeable  impression  of  the  United 
States,  its  institutions,  and  people.  On  behalf  of  our  President  I  bid  you 
welcome. 

General  Brugere,  speaking  for  the  President  of  France,  in 
response,  in  his  own  tongue,  said: 

GENTUSMEN:  I  thank  you  in  the  name  of  President  Loubet  and  the 
French  people  for  the  kind  welcome  which  you  have  accorded  to  us.  It 
is  a  very  great  pleasure  to  me  and  my  colleagues  to  visit  you  on  such  an 
occasion  of  international  esteem  as  the  unveiling  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU 
monument,  and  I  am  sure  we  will  carry  back  to  France  the  most  agreeable 
recollection  of  our  stay  in  your  midst. 

Since  our  departure  one  incident  has  occurred  which  will  stir  the  heart 
of  every  Frenchman  in  grateful  recognition  of  American  friendship,  and 
that  is  the  immediate  and  munificent  aid  which  was  extended  to  our 
stricken  fellow-countrymen  on  the  island  of  Martinique.  Gentlemen,  I 
thank  you  for  your  generous  welcome. 

The  commission  after  a  pleasant  half  hour  took  their 
departure.  On  their  return  to  the  Dolphin  they  paid  visits  of 
etiquette  to  the  Olympia  and  Alabama. 

At  a  later  hour  General  Brugere,  Vice- Admiral  Fournier, 
and  their  suites  made  their  return  call  upon  the  President's 
commission,  after  which  the  Dolphin  returned  to  Annapolis. 

Colonel  Bingham  departed  at  once  for  Washington  to  report 
the  events  of  the  day  to  the  President.  Assistant  Secretary 


56  The  "  Gaulois"  at  Annapolis 

Peirce  and  Commander  Rodgers  remained  to  escort  the  French 
Mission    the   next   morning  to  Washington   for  their    formal 

presentation  to  the  President. 

y 

LOUBET'S   PARTING   WORDS   TO    THE    MISSION. 

The  French  commission,  before  departing  on  the  armored 
cruiser  Gaulois  from  Toulon  for  the  port  of  New  York,  officially 
called  upon  President  L,oubet  in  Paris,  who,  in  addressing  them, 
said: 

The  bonds  which  so  long  united  the  Governments  of  the  two  Republics, 
as  well  as  the  peoples  of  the  United  States  and  France,  render  the  mission 
which  you  are  about  to  accomplish  particularly  important.  President 
Roosevelt  has  been  good  enough  to  become,  at  every  opportunity,  the 
mouthpiece  of  the  sympathy  uniting  the  two  nations,  and  I  am  extremely 
pleased  to  let  him  know,  through  you,  how  much  I  share  these  senti 
ments. 

You  will  respond  fully  to  the  sentiments  which  impel  me  to  send  this 
mission,  representing  worthily,  as  you  will,  the  army,  the  navy,  and  the 
universities  of  our  dear  country.  You  are  young  and  energetic  men, 
invested  with  very  high  state  functions,  and  you  are  going  to  a  country 
where  energy  is  a  religion  and  where  youth  is  loved.  I  anticipate  for  you 
the  good  welcome  which  that  enthusiastic  and  mighty  people  beyond 
the  ocean  has  ever  reserved  for  those  who  have  gone  there  to  represent 
France. 

PRELIMINARY  ATTENTIONS   TO    CIVIL   GUESTS 

On  the  following  morning  the  civil  members,  as  suited  their 
inclinations,  took  an  informal  tour  of  the  city  in  carriages  or 
automobiles  at  their  disposal. 

Ambassador  Cambon  meanwhile  called  at  the  White  House 
to  ascertain  the  wishes  of  the  President  with  regard  to  certain 
features  of  the  proposed  events  leading  up  to  the  exercises  of 
the  unveiling. 

At  i  p.  m.  Comte  and  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau  and  the  civil 
members  of  the  Mission  were  entertained  at  luncheon  by  M.  and 
Mme.  Cambon.  The  only  other  guests  were  attaches  of  the 
embassy.  The  affair  was  informal,  having  for  its  object  a  better 
personal  acquaintance  and  understanding  between  the  ambas 
sador  and  his  staff  and  the  specially  delegated  representatives 
of  the  " Government  and  people  of  France,"  present  at  the 
invitation  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  to  participate 
in  the  ceremonies  arranged  for  the  24th. 


EVENTS  OF  THE  DAY 

THURSDAY,  MAY  22 


ARRIVAL  OF  THE  FRENCH  MISSION  AT 
WASHINGTON  — RECEPTION  BY  THE 
PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES- 
CEREMONIAL  CALLS— VISIT  TO  THE 
TOMB  OF  WASHINGTON— STATE  DIN 
NER  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE 


ITINERARY 


Miles 

o  I<v.  Annapolis,  Md.  . 
15  Ar.  Odenton,  Md.  .  . 

o  I,v.  Odenton,  Md.  .  . 
24  Ar.  Washington,  D.  C. 


.  8.45  a.  m. 

.  9.15  a.  m. 

.  9.20  a.  m. 

.  10.00  a.  m. 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  ROCHAMBEAU  MISSION 

Key  to  the  group  of  members  of  the  Rochambeau  Mission 

[Read  from  left  of  the  picture] 

First  row :  Ladies  seated  (5) 

1.  Mme.  de  Margerie.     \j^  3.  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau. 

2.  Mme.  Cambon.   $£    >53  4-  Mrs.  Peirce. 

5.  Mme.  Vignal. 

Second  row:  Chief  military  and  naval  members  of  the  Mission  and  the  President's 

commission  (7) 

1.  General  de  Chalendar,  commander  Fourteenth  Infantry  Brigade. 

2.  Vice-Admiral  Fournier,  inspector-general,  of  the  French  navy. 

3.  General  Brug&re,  general  of  division,  vice-president  of  the  supreme  council  of  war. 

4.  H.  K.  M.  Cambon,  French  ambassador. 

5.  Mr.   Herbert  H.   D.   Peirce,   Third    Assistant    Secretary  of    State,   chairman    of 
President's  commission. 

6.  Col.  Theodore  A.  Bingham,  U.  S.  Army,  aid  to  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
member  of  the  President's  commission. 

7.  Commander    Raymond    P.    Rodgers,    U.   S.   Navy,    member   of  the  President's 
commission. 

Third  row  :  Officers  and  civil  members  (7) 

1.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hermite,  commander  of  the  Sixth  Foot  Artillery. 

2.  M.  Jean  Guillemin,  subdirector  of  the  cabinet  of  the  foreign  minister. 

3.  M.  Croiset,  minister  of  the  French  Institute,  dean  of  Faculty  of  Letters  of  Paris. 

4.  Lieut.  Col.  Meaux  SaintrMarc,  aid-de-camp  and  personal  representative  of  Emil 
Loubet,  President  of  the  French  Republic. 

5.  M.  Michel  Lagrave,  representing  the  ministry  of  commerce. 

6.  Cointe  de  Sahune  de  Lafayette,  representing  the  family  of  General  Marquis  de 
Lafayette. 

7.  Comte  de  Rochambeau,  representing  the  family  of  Lieutenant-General  Comte  DE 
ROCHAMBEAU. 

Fourth  row ,  Officers  and  civil  members  (7) 

1.  Capitaine  Pouilloue  de  Saint-Mars,  of  the  French  artillery. 

2.  M.  Robert  de  Billy,  secretary  of  embassy. 

3.  Major  Berthelot,  aid-de-camp  to  General  Brugere. 

4.  M.  Jules  Boeufv£,  chancellor  French  embassy,  Washington. 

5.  Lieutenant  Andre  Sauvaire-Jourdan,  aid-de-camp  to  Vice-Admiral  Fournier. 

6.  Mr.  Edwin  Morgan,  secretary  to  the  President's  commission. 

7.  Captain  Etienne  Fillonneau,  aid-de-camp  to  General  Brugere. 

pMarC,  Fifth  and  iast  row  (8) 

Lieutenau  t  -  Colonel 

1.  Capitaine  Vignal,  military  attach^,  French  embassy  at  Washington. 

2.  M.  de  Breda,  French  ensign. 

3.  Vicomte  Charles  de  Chambrun,  attach^  of  the  French  embassy  at  Berlin.     (Great 
grandson  of  Marquis  de  Lafayette.) 

4.  M.  Louis  Hermite. 

5.  Capitaine  Lasson,  attache  of  the  general  staff  of  the  governor  of  Paris. 

6.  M.  de  Margerie,  counselor  of  the  French  embassy  at  Washington. 

7.  Baron  Maximilien  de  Reinach  de  Werth,  aid-de-camp  to  Vice-Admiral  Fournier. 

8.  M.  Aiguesparsse,  attach^. 


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MISSION  DEPARTS  FOR  THE  CAPITAL 


At  an  early  hour  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  the  Standish 
proceeded  to  the  anchorage  of  the  vessels  of  war  and  took 
aboard  from  the  Gaulois  the  members  of  the  French  Mission. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  Standish  at  the  wharf  of  the  Acad 
emy  the  midshipmen  were  drawn  up  at  dress  parade,  extending 
to  the  Mission  full  military  honors.  At  the  same  time  a  battery 
stationed  near  by  fired  a  salute  of  15  guns. 

After  the  battalion  of  midshipmen  had  passed  in  review,  the 
members  of  the  Mission,  attended  by  Mr.  Peirce  and  Com 
mander  Rodgers,  took  carriages  for  the  station,  where  a  train 
was  in  waiting  to  convey  them  to  Washington. 

Those  present  were  General  Brugere,  chief  of  the  Mission; 
Vice- Admiral  Fournier;  General  Chalendar,  whose  ancestor 
was  a  lieutenant  under  ROCHAMBEAU;  Lieut.  Col.  Meaux  Saint- 
Marc,  of  the  military  household  of  the  President  of  France; 
Lieutenant- Colonel  Hermite.  of  the  Artillery;  Major  Berthelot, 
aid-de-camp  to  General  Brugere;  Captains  Pouiloiie  de  Saint- 
Mars,  Artillery;  Filloneau,  aid  to  General  Brugere,  and  Las- 
son,  of  the  general  staff  of  the  governor  of  Paris;  Lieutenants 
Sauvaire- Jordan,  Le  Jay,  and  Reinach  le  Werth,  aids  to  Vice- 

Admiral  Fournier. 

59 


60  Mission  Departs  for  the  Capital 

ARRIVAL   IN   WASHINGTON 

Upon  their  arrival  at  Washington  at  10  a.  m.,  the  members  of 
the  Mission  were  received  with  military  formalities  by  a  squadron 
of  the  Second  U.  S.  Cavalry,  drawn  up  opposite  the  station. 
About  a  dozen  open  carriages  were  also  ranged  at  the  main  door. 
The  first  of  these  was  that  of  the  President,  which  was  placed  at 
the  service  of  General  Brugere,  Admiral  Fournier,  and  General 
Chalendar,  who  occupied  it,  accompanied  by  Assistant  Secretary 
Peirce. 

The  cortege,  preceded  by  a  detachment  of  horse  and  bicycle 
police,  followed  by  the  cavalry  and  the  line  of  carriages,  pro 
ceeded  to  the  White  House  by  Pennsylvania  avenue. 

In  expectation  6f  their  arrival,  M.  Cambon,  ambassador  of 
France;  Mme.  Cambon;  M.  de  Margerie;  Counselor  and  Mme. 
de  Margerie;  Captain  and  Mme.  Vignal;  Lieutenant  Comte  de 
Faramond,  and  M.  Jules  Bceufve,  chancellor  of  the  French 
embassy,  reached  the  White  House  earlier  and  were  shown  to 
the  Red  Parlor.  A  few  minutes  after  Comte  and  Comtesse  de 
Rochambeau  ;  Comte  Sahune  de  Lafayette;  M.  Croiset,  of  the 
French  Institute;  M.  Lagrave,  of  the  ministry  of  commerce; 
M.  Guillemin,  of  the  cabinet  of  the  foreign  minister ;  M.  Re- 
nouard,  painter  and  engraver  ;  M.  de  Billy,  secretary  of  embassy, 
and  Vicomte  de  Chambrun  reached  the  White  House  and  were 
shown  to  the  Red  Parlor,  where  they  joined  the  ambassador 
and  suite. 

At  the  same  time  the  Secretaries  of  State,  War,  and  Navy  and 
other  members  of  the  Cabinet  were  gathered  in  the  Hast  Room 
to  assist  the  President  in  welcoming  the  French  envoys  and 
guests  of  the  nation.  Lieutenant-General  Miles,  Admiral 
Dewey,  General  Porter,  ambassador  of  the  United  States  to 
France,  Senators  and  Representatives  and  a  number  of  specially 
invited  ladies  in  official  life  were  present. 

AT   THE   WHITE   HOUSE 

Upon  entering  the  grounds  the  cavalry  rapidly  advanced  and, 
forming  in  line  fronting  the  north  facade  of  the  White  House, 
presented  sabers  as  the  members  of  the  Mission  drove  up. 


Mission  Departs  for  the  Capital  61 

At  the  steps  of  the  north  portico  Colonel  Bingham,  repre 
senting  the  President,  and  several  members  of  the  embassy  of 
France  met  the  Mission  and  conducted  them  to  the  Red  Parlor. 
The  moment  they  alighted,  a  salute  of  artillery  was  fired  from 
a  battery  on  the  Ellipse  south  of  the  Mansion. 

At  10.30  a.  m. ,  the  hour  appointed,  the  entire  personnel  of  the 
French  embassy,  Military  Mission,  and  civil  guests  thus  assem 
bled  in  the  Red  Parlor  were  escorted  by  Colonel  Bingham  to 
the  Hast  Room,  where  the  President,  the  members  of  his  official 
household,  the  heads  of  the  Army  and  Navy,  and  a  few  invited 
to  be  present,  was  ready  to  give  them  audience  and  greeting.' 

As  the  distinguished  strangers  entered  the  salon  from  the 
grand  corridor,  the  officers  in  the  uniforms  of  high  rank  in 
the  French  army,  the  ambassador  wearing  radiant  decorations, 
and  the  personnel  of  the  embassy  in  court  dress,  the  civil  mem 
bers  in  full  dress,  and  ladies  in  suitable  toilet,  the  scene  was 
particularly  brilliant  and  impressive. 

In  the  group  of  which  the  President  was  the  central  figure 
the  civil  dress  dominated,  relieved,  however,  by  the  uniforms  of 
the  admiral  and  general  officers,  and  rich  toilets  of  the  ladies. 

PRESIDENTIAL   WELCOME 

When  M.  Cambon,  ambassador  of  France,  presented  General 
Brugere,  the  President  advanced  his  hand  and  gave  him  a  most 
hearty  welcome  as  the  envoy  of  President  Loubet.  He  made 
greeting  equally  cordial  to  Admiral  Fournier  and  to  the  other 
members  of  the  Mission  as  they  were  introduced  by  Ambassador 
Cambon.  The  ceremony  of  presentation  extended  some  time 
beyond  the  prearranged  schedule,  owing  to  the  President  being 
engaged  in  an  earnest  conversation  with  General  Brugere  and 
Admiral  Fournier  which  lasted  nearly  three-quarters  of  an  hour. 

Upon  leaving  the  White  House,  the  ladies  of  the  party  re 
turning  to  the  hotel,  General  Brugere  and  the  members  of  the 
Mission  made  calls  of  etiquette  upon  the  Secretaries  of  State, 
War,  and  Navy,  Lieutenant-General  Miles,  Admiral  Dewey, 
and  the  ambassadors  accredited  to  Washington. 


6s  Mission  Departs  for  the  Capital 

IN   MEMORY   OF   WASHINGTON 

In  the  afternoon  the  naval  yacht  Sylph  conveyed  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Mission,  who  were  attended  by  Assistant  Secretary 
Peirce,  to  Mount  Vernon. 

The  mausoleum  was  opened  in  honor  of  the  distinguished  vis 
itors.  Ambassador  Cambon,  General  Brugere,  Vice- Admiral 
Fournier,  and  a  few  others  entered  the  sacred  precincts.  Gen 
eral  Brugere,  in  the  name  of  the  French  Government,  deposited 
upon  the  tomb  of  Washington  a  magnificent  wreath  of  laurel 
adorned  with  tricolor  ribbons. 

The  Comte  de  Rochambeau  planted  a  young  maple  tree, 
which  sprung  upon  the  field  of  Yorktown  where  RGCHAMBKAU 
fought  by  the  side  of  Washington.  General  Brugere  and  the 
other  French  officers  put  the  finishing  touches  to  the  com 
memorative  act  by  taking  up  the  spade  and  casting  earth 
around  the  foot  of  the  tree. 

The  entire  party  were  then  shown  through  the  mansion  by 
the  superintendent,  who  pointed  out  and  explained  the  relics 
associated  with  the  name  of  ROCHAMBKAU. 

At  the  conclusion  of  these  tributes  of  remembrance,  the  party 
again  boarding  the  Sylph,  returned  to  Washington. 

DINNER   OF  STATE 

In  the  evening  at  the  usual  ceremonial  hour,  8  o'clock,  took 
place  the  state  dinner,  given  at  the  White  House  in  honor  of 
the  guests. 

The  President  sat  at  the  head  of  the  table,  with  Mme. 
Cambon  at  his  right  and  the  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau  on 
his  left. 

THE   GUESTS 

The  guests,  which  numbered  58,  were — 

The  Secretary  of  State  The  Secretary  of  the  Navy 

The   Secretary   of   War   and,  Mrs.      The  Secretary  of  Agriculture  and 

Root  Miss  Wilson 

The  Postmaster-General  and  Mrs.      Miss  Roosevelt 

Payne  Miss  Carow 


Mission  Departs  for  the  Capital 


The  Secretary  to  the  President 

Col.  Theodore  A.  Bingham 

The  French  Ambassador  and  Mme. 

Cambon 

General  Brugere 
Vice-Admiral  Brnest  Fournier 
Comte  and  Comtesse  de  Rocham- 

beau 

Comte  Paul  de  Sahune  de  Lafayette 
M.  Alfred  Croiset 
General  of   Brigade  Ferdinand  de 

Chalendar 
Captain  de  Surgy,  Commander  of 

the  Gaulois 

Lieut.  Col.  Paul  Meaux  Saint-Marc. 
M.  Lagrave 

M.  and  Mme.  De  Margerie 
M.  Jean  Guillemin 
Lieut.  Col.  Marcel  Hermite 
M.  Renouard 
M.  Robert  de  Billy 
Maj.  Henri  Berthelot 
Lieut.  Commander  de  Faramond  de 

Lafajolle 

Captain  and  Mme.  Vignal 
M.  Jules  Bceufve" 
Lieut.  Andre  Sauvaire-Jourdan 
Lieut.  Gustave  Le  Jay 


Lieutenant   Baron    Maximilien   de 

Reinach  de  Werth 
Capt.  Pouilloiie  de  Saint-Mars 
Capt.  Btienne  Filonneau 
Capt.  Henri  Lasson 
M.  Louis  Hermite 
Vicomte  Charles  de  Chambrun 
M.  Ferdinand  Hamar 
M.  Henri  E.  Gourd  ( 

Senator  Wetmore 
Senator  Lodge 
Senator  Cullom 
Senator  Morgan 
Representative  McCleary 
Representative  Hitt 
Representative  Dinsmore 
Assistant  Secretary  of  State  David 

J.  Hill 

Herbert  H.  D.  Peirce 
Admiral  Dewey 
Lieutenant-General  Miles 
Maj.  Gen.  S.  B.  M.  Young 
Commander  Raymond  P.  Rodgers 
Gen.  Horace  Porter 
Cardinal  Gibbons 
The  Bishop  of  Washington 
S.  P.  Langley 
Edwin  V.  Morgan 


TO   THE   HEALTH   OF    LOUBET 

During  the  dinner  the  President  rising,  his  guests  following, 
proposed  the  health  of  the  President  of  the  French  Republic  and 
the  people  of  France.  The  French  ambassador  responded  in  a 
toast  ' '  to  the  President  of  the  United  States, ' '  upon  which 
he  uttered  a  few  well-chosen  sentiments  addressed  especially 
to  the  President.  Secretary  Hay  in  turn  offered  a  sentiment 
"to  the  members  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  Mission,"  to  which 
General  Brugere  responded. 


EVENTS  OF  THE  DAY 

FRIDAY,  MAY  23 


ROOSEVELT  -  LOUBET 

THE  PRESIDENT  ON  "  LE  GAUUHS  " 
RETURNS  TO  WASHINGTON—  DIN 
NER  AT  THE  FRENCH  EMBASSY 

ITINERARY 

ADVANCE   SPECIAL 

Miles  i 

o  IyV.  Washington,  D.  C.     .     ......  9.30  a.  m. 

24  Ar.  Odenton,  Md  ..........  10.05  a-  m- 

o  L,v.  Odenton,  Md  ..........  10.10  a.  m. 

15  Ar.  Annapolis,  Md  ..........  10.40  a.  m. 

PRESIDENT'S   SPECIAL 

I,v.  Washington,  D.  C  ........     10.30  a.  m. 

Ar.  Annapolis,  Md  ..........     11.30  a.  m. 

RETURN 

o  IyV.  Annapolis,  Md  .........  4.00  p.  m. 

15  Ar.  Odenton,  Md.  ...  ......  4.30  p.  m. 

o  I^v.  Odenton,  Md  ..........  4.35  p.  m. 

24  Ar.  Washington,  D.  C  ........  5.15  p.  m. 


64 


VICE  ADMIRAL  FOURNIER 
France 


NAVAL  FETE 


At  9.30  on  the  morning  of  May  23,  in  order  to  reach  the 
Ga ulois  in  advance  of  the  Pn  Veneral  Brugere  and  the 

other  members  of  the  KftfflW?  FOURNIER  >sion  left 
for  Annapolis.  Chef  ******  (chief  °f  squadron) 

VICE-ADMIRAL  FOURNIER,  inspector-general  of  movable  defenses  and  submarine 
stations,  officer  of  the  Legion  of  Honor,  entered  the  naval  school  in  1859.  Served  exten 
sively  in  the  waters  of  Cochin  China,  Korea;  Lieutenant  de  Vaisseau.  In  the  Franco- 
Prussian  war  commanded  a  company  of  marines  and  led  the  column  of  assault  on 
Bourget,  the  battalion  losing  254  men  and  10  officers  killed  and  wounded;  aid  to  the 
commander  in  chief  of  the  Mediterranean  squadron;  captain  de  frigate  at  37  years; 
aid  to  minister  of  marine;  made  a  fourth  voyage  to  China;  in  the  operations  off  Ton 
kin;  arranged  the  basis  of  an  agreement  between  France  and  China.  At  Peking  drew 
up  and  signed  the  treaty  of  May  n,  1884;  Capitan  de  Vaisseau;  flag  captain  and  chief  of 
staff  during  a  cruise  in  the  Pacific;  rear-admiral  and  chief  of  the  naval  division  of  Indo- 
China,  later  of  the  Atlantic,  later  of  the  marine  in  Algiers;  organized  and  commanded 
the  division  of  cruisers  constituting  the  first  school  of  war  of  the  navy  of  France;  vice- 
admiral  maritime  prefect  .at  Brest;  commandant  of  the  Mediterranean  squadron 
during  the  Fashoda  affair;  member  of  the  supreme  council  of  the  marine;  permanent 
inspector-general  of  movable  defenses  and  submarine  stations;  author  of  a  number  of 
scientific  works  on  maritime  subjects,  including  Variations  of  the  Compass  (for  which 
he  was  made  an  officer  of  The  Region  of  Honor),  and  Cyclones,  The  Forms  of  Less 
Resistance  on  Keels,  etc. 

eral  Brugere  and  his  party  aboar 
S  miles  below. 

The  "President's  special"   left  Washington   an  hour  later. 
tent,   his  daughter,  and  sister-in-law,   Miss 
Emily  Tyler  Carow,  in  this  party  were  the  French  ambassador 
and  Mme.  Cambon,  the  Secretary  of  War  and  Mrs.  Root,  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Rear-Adn.  Mr.  Foss,  Rep 

resentative  from  Illinois,  chairma-.  tnittee  « 

Affairs;  Secretary  and  Mrs.  Cortt 

,tor  from  Massachusetts; 
Bingham  and    Lieutenaiu 
to  the  President,  and  Mr 

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NAVAL  FETE 


At  9.30  on  the  morning  of  May  23,  in  order  to  reach  the 
Gaulois  in  advance  of  the  President,  General  Brugere  and  the 
other  members  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  Mission  left  Washington 
for  Annapolis. 

Accompanying  them  were  Lieutenant-General  Miles,  Admiral 
Dewey,  Assistant  Secretary  Peirce,  Captain  Rodgers,  and  Mr. 
Morgan,  of  the  executive  committee,  representing  the  President; 
General  Corbin;  General  Porter,  ambassador  to  France;  Mr. 
Gourd,  president  of  the  French  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  New 
York,  and  eight  ladies. 

Upon  their  arrival  at  Annapolis  the  members  of  the  Mission 
and  those  with  them  were  received  by  two  officers  of  marines 
stationed  at  the  naval  school,  who  conducted  them  to  the  wharf, 
where  they  were  joined  by  the  governor  of  Maryland,  Mr.  John 
Walter  Smith,  also  one  of  the  invited  guests. 

From  the  landing  the  Gloucester  and  Standish  carried  Gen 
eral  Brugere  and  his  party  aboard  the  Gaulois,  which  lay  about 
S  miles  below. 

The  ''President's  special"  left  Washington  an  hour  later. 
Besides  the  President,  his  daughter,  and  sister-in-law,  Miss 
Emily  Tyler  Carow,  in  this  party  were  the  French  ambassador 
and  Mme.  Cambon,  the  Secretary  of  War  and  Mrs.  Root,  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Rear-Admiral  Taylor,  Mr.  Foss,  Rep 
resentative  from  Illinois,  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Naval 
Affairs;  Secretary  and  Mrs.  Cortelyou,  Mrs.  Lodge,  wife  of  the 
Senator  from  Massachusetts;  Surgeon-  General  Rixey,  Colone.1 
Bingham  and  Lieutenant-Commander  Winston,  U.  S.  Navy, 
aids  to  the  President,  and  Mrs.  Winston. 

S.  Doc.  537,  59-1  -  5  65 


66  Naval  Fete 

Arriving  at  Annapolis  at  1 1 . 30,  the  President  was  received 
by  Commandant  Wainwright,  Superintendent  of  the  Naval 
Academy,  and  Lieutenant  Seigenenmeier,  his  aid. 

Along  the  streets  traversed  by  the  President  and  party  were 
stationed  a  double  line  of  United  States  marines  and  National 
Guard  of  Maryland,  who  stood  at  "present."  The  battalion  of 
naval  cadets  was  in  line  on  the  parade.  As  the  President  and 
party  passed  they  presented  arms,  drums  ruffled,  and  the  corps 
band  played  the  ' '  Star-Spangled  Banner. ' ' 

Arriving  at  the  wharf  the  President  and  suite  took  seats  in 
the  launches  awaiting  them,  in  which  they  were  carried  out  to 
the  dispatch  boat  Dolphin. 

The  trip  of  5  miles  between  the  wharf  and  the  Gaulois  was 
quickly  covered,  and  although  without  incident  the  marine 
scene  presented  was  extremely  enchanting. 

When  the  Dolphin  reached  the  anchorage  of  the  ships  of  war 
the  three  American  escort  vessels — Olympia,  Alabama,  and 
Kearsarge — fired  a  Presidential  salute  of  21  guns. 

ON    BOARD   THK    "  GAULOIS  " 

The  small  boats  of  the  Dolphin  transferred  the  President 
and  suite  to  the  Gaulois.  As  the  President  reached  the  deck 
of  the  French  cruiser  he  was  greeted  by  Ambassador  Cambon, 
General  Brugere,  and  Vice- Admiral  Fournier,  the  guard  being 
paraded  and  at  "present.  " 

The  President  was  at  once  conducted  to  the  main  cabin  of 
Vice- Admiral  Fournier,  where  the  other  members  of  the  Mis 
sion  were  in  waiting.  After  a  brief  interchange  of  courtesies 
with  the  French  officers,  the  President,  having  expressed  a  de 
sire  to  be  shown  through  the  ship  while  awaiting  breakfast, 
which  would  be  served  in  an  hour,  Vice-Admiral  Fournier 
performed  that  agreeable  duty.  The  President  took  a  lively 
interest  in  the  armament  and  arrangement  of  the  Gaulois.  Mr. 
Foss,  who  was  in  company  with  the  President  in  his  tour  of 
observation,  also  manifested  great  interest  in  the  design  and 
distribution  of  weights,  economics,  and  metal.  It  was  remarked 
that  the  Alabama,  one  of  the  escort  vessels  anchored  near  by, 


Naval  F£te  67 

the  latest  of  the  United  States  armored  ships,  resembled  in  cer 
tain  particulars  the  French  cuirasse,  having  the  same  tonnage, 
the  same  draft,  and  the  same  armament. 

BREAKFAST  TO   THK    PRESIDENT 

The  equipment  for  breakfast  was  improvised  on  the  quarter 
deck,  under  a  pavilion  formed  of  French  and  American  flags,  and 
artistically  decorated  with  plants  and  flowers,  especially  Ameri 
can  Beauty  and  Jacqueminot  roses. 

The  service — china,  cut  ware,  and  plate — was  brought  from 
the  Palace  of  the  Klysee  at  Paris,  in  charge  of  an  officer  of  the 
Gaulois,  in  anticipation  of  ceremonial  and  festive  events  grow 
ing  out  of  the  interchange  of  hospitalities. 

About  100  persons  occupied  seats  at  the  table.  The  Presi 
dent  held  the  place  of  honor  at  the  center,  directly  under  the 
muzzles  of  the  two  great  30  centimeters  (i 2-inch  guns),  which 
protruded  from  the  after-turret  of  the  Gaulois.  Facing  the 
President  was  a  grouping  of  American  flags  surrounding  an 
eagle  with  outspread  wings  and  surmounting  the  escutcheon 
of  the  United  States  in  electric  lights  with  a  ribbon  inscribed 
' '  E  pluribus  unum. ' ' 

The  President  had  at  his  right  Mrs.  Root,  wife  of  the  Secre 
tary  of  War,  and  General  Brugere,  at  his  left  Mrs.  Lodge,  wife 
of  the  Senator  from  Massachusetts,  and  Vice- Admiral  Fournier. 
Mme.  Cambon,  wife  of  the  French  ambassador,  sat  facing  the 
President.  A  place  of  honor  was  also  assigned  to  the  governor 
of  Maryland,  by  the  side  of  whom  sat  Admiral  Dewey. 

The  ship's  band,  which  was  stationed  on  the  lower  deck, 
performed  choice  selections  from  its. repertoire. 

INTERNATIONAL    FELICITATIONS 

During  the  dessert  Ambassador  Cambon  rose  and  in  the  name 
of  the  President  of  the  Republic  of  France  extended  a  cordial 
welcome  to  all  present  on  the  soil  of  France,  represented  by  the 
Gaulois.  He  was  specially  affable  in  his  allusions  to  the  Presi 
dent,  in  whose  hands  he  said  the  liberties  so  precious  to  the 


68  Naval  Fete 

American  people  were  a  surety.  The  ambassador  eloquently 
recalled  the  object  of  the  Mission  of  General  Brugere,  hoping 
the  close  amity  which  for  more  than  a  century  had  united  the 
people  of  France  to  the  people  of  the  United  States  would  be 
perpetuated  by  future  generations. 

The  ambassador  concluded  in  drinking  to  the  health — 

of  the  President  of  the  glorious  American  Republic,  which  had  given  the 
example  of  popular  liberty  not  only  to  France  but  to  the  entire  world. 

In  proposing  the  health  of  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
Ambassador  Cambon  said  in  the  presence  of  the  Chief  Mag 
istrate  of  the  United  States  he  desired  to  mention  the  fact  of 
being  the  direct  and  personal  representative  of  M.  I^oubet, 
President  of  the  French  Republic. 

The  President  happily  responded,  speaking  with  profound 
deliberation.  He  apparently  measured  his  words,  realizing  the 
international  character  of  the  fete  on  the  deck  of  the  Gaulois. 

REMARKS   OF  THE  PRESIDENT 

Mr.  Ambassador,  General  Brugere,  Admiral  Fournier,  and  you  who  are 
our  hosts  and  guests  to-day:  I  thank  you  with  all  my  heart  in  the  name 
of  our  people  for  what  this  Mission  means.  We  appreciate  what  France 
did  in  sending  it,  and  we  appreciate  what  was  implied  in  the  choice  of 
those  who  were  sent  here.  Through  you,  Monsieur  Cambon,  we  thank 
France  for  having  chosen  the  General  and  the  Admiral  to  come  here  to  us. 

One  hundred  and  twenty  years  ago  the  valor  of  the  soldiers  and  sailors 
of  France  exerted  what  was  perhaps  the  determining  influence  in  making 
this  a  free  and  independent  nation,  and  because  of  that  France  must 
necessarily  always  occupy  a  peculiar  position  in  our  hearts.  [Great  ap 
plause.]  I  thank  you  for  the  courtesy  extended  to  me  personally  to-day. 
Admiral,  it  has  been  not  only  a  pleasure  but  a  source  of  profit  to  me  to  see 
this  magnificent  battle  ship,  so  perfect  in  all  its  details,  and  to  see  not 
merely  the  perfection  of  the  mechanism  but  the  training  of  the  men  who 
handle  the  mechanism.  I  am  sure  I  speak  for  the  men  of  our  Navy  who 
are  present  to-day  when  I  say  that  it  has  been  not  only  a  pleasure  to  be 
here  but  a  source  of  instruction  as  well. 

Monsieur  Cambon,  I  thank  you  also,  because  it  has  not  only  been  an 
honor  to  receive  this  embassy,  but  it  has  been  a  pleasure  also,  and  some 
times  in  this  life  the  things  of  honor  are  not  always  the  things  of  pleasure. 
They  both  happen  to  coincide  in  this  instance.  And  let  me  in  return,  on 
behalf  of  all  the  people  of  the  United  States,  and  in  the  certainty  that  I 


Naval  Fete  69 

am  expressing  their  sincere  feeling,  drink  to  the  health  of  Monsieur 
Bmile  L,oubet,  President  of  the  French  Republic,  and  to  that  people, 
mighty  in  peace  and  in  war,  of  which  he  is  President.  [Great  applause.] 

The  Secretary  of  War  delivered  a  brief  but  happy  reply.  He 
recalled  that  the  Gaulois  had  cast  anchor  in  the  same  waters 
which  bathed  the  shores  of  Yorktown.  In  closing  he  proposed 
as  a  sentiment  suitable  to  the  occasion  and  its  meaning,  ' '  The 
Army  of  France,  ever  faithful  and  tender  in  friendship,  ever 
intrepid  and  courageous  in  war. ' ' 

Admiral  Fournier,  following,  made  allusion  to  the  reciprocal 
esteem  which  existed  between  the  navies  of  the  two  countries, 
and  proposed  the  health  of  President  Roosevelt  and  the  mem 
bers  of  his  official  household. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Navy  delivered  a  brief  address  full  of 
vigor  of  expression  and  felicity  of  thought,  remarking  that  the 
French  fleet  had  always  come  to  the  United  States  on  a  mission 
of  friendship,  adding — 

When  France  came  to  our  aid  over  a  hundred  years  ago,  she  not  only 
rendered  a  great  service  to  liberty,  but  imposed  upon  us  a  duty  which 
entailed  the  fulfillment  of  a  great  obligation.  The  American  people  can 
say  with  pride  that  they  were  never  deceived. 

In  closing  his  remarks  Mr.  Moody  proposed  the  "French 
navy."  He  was  warmly  applauded. 

General  Brugere  followed  in  stirring  words  concerning  the 
Army  of  the  United  States. 

General  Brugere  said: 

I  drink  to  the  health  of  the  Army  and  I  welcome  here  the  chiefs  of  the 
Army,  at  its  head  the  President  of  the  United  States,  who  is  a  real 
soldier — a  soldier  to  the  core  and  who  has  proved  it.  We  have  before  us 
to-day,  on  the  eve  of  to-morrow's  ceremonies,  remembrances  of  the  war 
for  Independence,  when  the  American  and  French  armies  fought  side  by 
side  under  the  guidance  of  the  same  general,  who  led  them  to  victory. 
How  could  I  forget  on  this  American  soil,  steeped  in  the  blood  shed  in 
common  for  right  and  liberty,  the  bond  of  close  friendship  which  united 
two  countries  in  those  days,  which  have  survived  the  most  critical  times, 
and  which  will  maintain  themselves  in  the  future,  whatever  may  come. 

Can  I  not  remind  you  that  when  General  Washington  died  the  French 
army  mourned  him  as  it  would  one  of  her  chiefs,  and  the  French  flag  was 
covered  with  crape  for  ten  days.  Feeling  deeply  these  sentiments  of 


70  Naval  F£te 

solid  and  close  friendship,  I  send  a  cordial  greeting  in  the  name  of  the 
descendants  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  soldiers  to  the  descendants  of  the 
soldiers  of  Washington. 

The  General  proposed  "the  memory  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and 
Washington." 

M.  Cambon  finished  these  mutually  felicitous  flights  of  post 
prandial  oratory  by  rising  and  announcing  as  a  toast  of  gal 
lantry  the  health  of  Madame  Roosevelt,  "The  First  Lady  of  the 
Land,"  which  was  greeted  with  prolonged  and  loud  expressions 
of  approbation. 

THE  GUESTS 

The  guests  were — 

President  Roosevelt. 

Miss  Roosevelt. 

Miss  Carow. 

Governor  John  Walter  Smith. 

Senator  and  Mrs.  Wetmore,  of  Rhode  Island. 

Representative  George  Edmund  Foss,  of  Illinois. 

The  Secretary  of  War  and  Mrs.  Root. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Secretary  and  Mrs.  Cortelyou. 

L,ieut.  Gen.  Nelson  A.  Miles. 

Admiral  George  Dewey. 

Major-General  and  Mrs.  Corbin. 

Ambassador  Porter. 

Assistant  Secretary  of  State  Herbert  H.  D.  Peirce. 

Col.  Theodore  A.  Bingham,  U.  S.  Army. 

Commander  Raymond  P.  Rodgers,  U.  S.  Navy. 

Captain  Gleaves,  U.  S.  Navy. 

Rear-Admiral  Higginson,  U.  S.  Navy. 

Commander  Wainwright,  U.  S.  Navy. 

The  members  of  the  Military  and  Naval  Mission  of  France 

.Comte  and  Comtesse  Rochambeau. 

Vicomte  de  Chambrun. 

Comte  and  Comtesse  Lafayette  and  others. 

The  menu  of  this  memorable  breakfast  was  appropriate  to 
the  occasion. 


Naval  Fete  71 

RETURN   OF   THE   PRESIDENT 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  breakfast,  accompanied  by  his 
daughter,  sister-in-law,  Secretaries  Root  and  Moody,  Mrs.  Root, 
Mrs.  Lodge,  and  a  few  others,  the  President,  after  an  affable 
parting  with  his  host,  returned  to  his  launch  and  boarded  the 
Dolphin.  As  he  moved  away  from  the  Gaulois  a  salute  of  2 1  guns 
was  fired.  Upon  landing,  the  President  and  his  party  drove 
rapidly  and  without  ceremony  en  route  to  the  railway  station. 
He  was  followed  by  another  launch  which  conveyed  General 
Miles,  Governor  Smith,  Ambassador  Porter,  General  Corbin, 
and  others  to  the  Standish,  which  landed  them.  As  the  launch 
pulled  away  the  Gaulois  fired  a  salute  in  honor  of  Governor 
Smith  and  General  Miles. 

AT    WASHINGTON 

At  5.28  p.  m.  the  special  train  conveying  the  President  and 
suite  on  their  return  to  the  capital  drew  up  in  the  station.  A 
large  crowd  had  gathered  in  anticipation  of  his  arrival  and 
greeted  the  party  with  great  cheering. 

On  the  way  along  the  platform  the  President  grasped  the 
hands  of  the  man  at  the  throttle  and  the  fireman,  and  thanked 
the  conductor  for  his  thoughtful  attention. 

The  President,  with  his  daughter  and  Miss  Carow  and  Sec 
retary  Loeb,  entered  his  carriage  and  without  formality  drove 
to  the  White  House.  The  rest  of  the  party  drove  to  their  own 
residences. 

RETURN  OF  THE  FRENCH  AMBASSADOR 

The  special  train  bearing  the  French  ambassador  and  mem 
bers  of  the  French  embassy  and  foreign  guests  entered  the 
station  at  6  p.  m.  on  their  return  from  Annapolis,  and  they 
were  escorted  to  their  hotel. 

The  crowd,  having  awaited  their  return,  gave  them  a  hearty 
greeting  as  they  proceeded  to  their  carriages  and  drove  away. 


72  Naval  F£te 

BANQUET  AT   THE   FRENCH   EMBASSY 

It  was  the  eve  of  the  day  of  the  unveiling.  M.  and  Mme. 
Cambon  entertained  their  visiting  countrymen  and  women  at 
a  state  dinner  at  the  French  embassy,  representing  the  ' '  Gov 
ernment  and  people  of  France." 

The  banquet  room,  arranged  for  22  guests,  was  a  bower  of 
floral  beauty,  rivaled  alone  by  the  elegance  of  the  toilet  and 
felicity  of  madame  1'hostesse. 

The  guests,  with  but  few  exceptions,  were  the  same  as  those 
of  the  President  at  the  White  House  two  days  before. 

General  Brugere,  of  the  French  army,  and  Vice- Admiral 
Fournier,  of  the  French  navy,  Count  and  Countess  de  Rocham- 
beau,  Count  Paul  de  Lafayette,  M.  Croiset,  Vicomte  de  Cham- 
brun,  Brigadier- General  Chalendar,  Lieut.  Col.  Meaux  Saint- 
Marc,  Captain  de  Surgy,  M.  Lagrave,  M.  Jean  Guillemin, 
Lieutenant- Colonel  Hermite,  M.  Renouard,  M.  Robert  de  Billy, 
Major  Berthelot,  Lieutenant  Sauvier-Jourdan,  Lieut.  Gustave  le 
Jay,  Baron  de  Werth,  Capt.  Poilloiie  de  Saint-Mars,  Capt. 
Etienne  Fillonneau,  Capt.  Henri  Lasson,  all  of  the  French 
Mission;  the  ambassador  from  Germany;  the  ambassador  from 
Russia;  the  ambassador  from  Mexico  and  Mme.  Aspiroz;  the 
ambassador  from  Italy  and  Mme.  Mayor  des  Planches;  the 
Austrian  minister  and  Baroness  Hengelm^iller;  the  minister  from 
Denmark;  the  Swiss  minister;  the  minister  from  the  Nether 
lands;  Gen.  Horace  Porter,  the  ambassador  to  France;  Sena 
tor  and  Mrs.  Cullom;  Senator  and  Mrs.  Wetmore;  Senator  and 
Mrs.  Fairbanks;  Senator  and  Mrs.  Depew;  Senator  Hanna; 
Cardinal  Gibbons;  Bishop  Chapelle;  the  first  Assistant  Secre 
tary  of  State,  Mr.  Hill;  the  Third  Assistant  Secretary  of  State 
and  Mrs.  Peirce;  Representative  and  Mrs.  McCleary;  Mrs. 
Daniel  Manning;  Miss  Alice  Roosevelt  and  Miss  Carow;  Gen. 
S.  B.  M.  Young;  Commander  R.  P.  Rodgers;  Doctor  Maguien; 
Mr.  Herbert  Putnam;  Colonel  Bingham,  and  Professor  Gore, 
with  the  entire  staff  of  the  host's  embassy. 


Naval  Fete  73 

From  9  to  ii  p.  m.,  during  the  hours  of  the  reception,  the 
band  of  the  Gaulois  played  a  selected  repertoire  of  operatic  and 
popular  airs  in  front  of  the  embassy. 

During  the  afternoon  from  4  to  5  o'clock  an  open-air  concert 
was  given  by  the  band  of  the  Gaulois  in  the  White  House 
grounds.  This  band,  belonging  to  the  Toulon  fleet  and  detached 
to  the  Gaulois  for  this  voyage,  ranks  foremost  among  organi 
zations  of  its  kind  in  the  French  navy.  - 


EVENTS  OF  THE  DAY 

SATURDAY,  MAY  24 


United  States 


France 


THE  STATUE  OF  ROCHAMBEAU  UN 
VEILED—REVIEW  OF  THE  "ALLIED" 
FORCES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  AND 
FRANCE— VISIT  OF  COMPLIMENT  TO 
THE  CAPITOL  AND  THE  LIBRARY  OF 
CONGRESS  — RECEPTION  AT  THE 
FRENCH  EMBASSY. 


74 


THEODORE  ROOSEVELT 

President  of  the  Republic  of  the  United  States 
of  America 


AN  IMPJ 

The  largest  city  of  the  American  continent;  gave  him.  birth,  the  oldest  university  of 
the  American  Republic  gave  him  education,  and  the  Empire  Commonwealth  of  the 
American  Union  gave  him  his  first  experience  in  public  affairs.  These  cardinal  events 
in  the  career  of  Theodore  Roosevelt  transpired,  respectively,  1858,  1876,  1881.  Having 
been  .twice  reelected  as  legislator,  in  his  second  term  he  was  the  candidate  of  his  party 
for  speaker.  The  majority  being  Democratic  and  success  not  political  the  circumstance 
nevertheless  had  significance  as  a  manifestation  of  his  forceful  relation  to  coordinate 
men  and  affairs. 

During  the  third  period  of  his  legislative  service  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  cities  and  of  the  special  committee  which  investigated  abuses  in  the  government  of 
New  York  City. 

His  advent  iu  State  politics  found  opportunity  as  delegate  to  the  -Republican  State 
convention  of  1884,  arid  in  national  politics  as  one  of  the  four  delegates  at  large  for 
New  York  to  the  national  convention  which  nominated  James  G.  Elaine,  Republican 
candidate  for  President  of  the  United  States. 

In  the  same  year  and  several  following  he  engaged  in  raising  cattle  in  North  Dakota; 
but  retaining  his  metropolitan  political  affiliations,  in  1886  was  Republican  nominee 
for  mayor  of  New  York.  In  1889  appointed  member  of  the  United  States  Civil  Service 
Commission.  He  held  that  office  until  1895,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  the  presidency 
of  the  police  commission  of  Greater  New  York.  In  1897  President  McKinley  appointed 
him  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  which  he  resigned  the  following  year  to  become 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  First  United  States  Volunteer  Cavalry  in  the  conflict  with 
Spain.  In  the  actualities  of  war  he  participated  in  the  fights  at  Las  Guasimas  and 
San  Juan,  and  was  mustered  out  colonel,  with  his  regiment,  at  Montauk,  Long  Island, 
September,  1898.  From  this  point  his  rise  in  public  station  was  rapid.  In  the  two 
months  following  he  was  nominated  and  elected  governor  of  New  York.  In  the  suc 
ceeding  two  years  he  governed  wisely  and  progressively,  received  nomination  and 
election  to  the  Vice-Presidency  of  the  United  States.  In  less  than  a  year  the  death  of 
the  President  opened  to  him  the  succession  to  the  chief  office,  to  which  he  became  his 
own  successor  by  unanimous  nomination  of  the  Republican  national  convention  of 
1904,  the  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  members  of  the  electoral  colleges  of  all  the  States, 
and  a  majority  of  upward  of  two  and  one-half  million  votes  being  in  itself  by  a 
large  majority  the  greatest  popular  indorsement  given  to  any  of  his  predecessors 
in  the  high  office  of  President  of  the  United  States. 

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President  of  the  RM 

of  America 


AN  IMPRESSIVE  COMMEMORATION 


The  reminiscent,  oratorical,  and  spectacular — national  and 
international — were  never  more  impressively  blended  in  harmo 
nious  commemoration  than  in  the  events  and  exercises  immedi 
ately  associated  with  the  unveiling  of  the  monument  of  Comte 
DE  ROCHAMBKAU,  commander  in  chief  of  the  auxiliary  forces  of 
France  in  the  war  of  the  American  Revolution. 

It  not  only  revived  the  memory  of  the  offensive  and  defensive 
ties  of  friendship  which  brought  three  great  fleets  and  a  for 
midable  army  to  the  shores  of  America  in  succor  of  the  well- 
nigh  exhausted  rebelling  States,  but  reinspired  with  vigor  the 
sense  of  obligation  cherished  by  every  patriotic  citizen. 

It  was  the  first  time  men  not  Americans,  in  peaceful  array 
under  arms,  bearing  the  flag  of  a  foreign  state,  under  their  own 
officers,  with  military  discipline  and  in  technical  formation,  were 
witnessed  marching  on  the  avenue  of  the  nation's  capital. 

It  was  not  the  first  time  American  and  French  soldiers, 
under  their  respective  officers  and  national  colors,  under  arms, 
marched  shoulder  to  shoulder  in  warlike  array  in  the  capital  of 
the  United  States. 

On  a  summer  day  in  1781,  from  the  Hudson  to  the  York, 
the  men  of  Bourbonnais,  Soissonnais,  Saintonge,  Deauxpont, 
Uxonne,  and  Lauzun,  to  the  sound  of  martial  music  paraded 
the  streets  of  Philadelphia  under  the  eye  of  the  American  Con 
gress  and  the  populace,  with  greetings,  gratitude,  and  godspeed, 
on  the  march  with  Washington  and  his  Continentals  to  the 
Virginia  peninsula. 

75 


76  An  Impressive  Commemoration 

FLAG  DECORATION 

The  flag  display  was  highly  artistic  and  greatly  admired. 
The  blended  colors  of  the  two  great  Republics  of  the  world — the 
senior  of  the  new  and  junior  of  the  old — were  not  only  reminis 
cent  of  the  struggles  of  times  long  gone  by,  but  of  the  ameni 
ties,  amity,  and  friendship  of  the  present,  giving  accent  to 
the  cherished  wish  that  the  reciprocal  feeling  born  of  ancient 
ties  and  grateful  remembrance  may  endure,  unsullied  by  strife 
or  enmity,  during  the  existence  of  both  as  Governments  and 
people. 

It  must  not  be  overlooked,  however,  that  the  colors  of  the 
power  which  gave  such  timely  and  effective  succor  displayed 
the  three  lilies  of  X/ouis  (XVI)  de  Bourbon,  King  of  France 
and  Navarre. 

The  stands  were  hidden  behind  American  flags  and  bunting. 
From  staffs  within  the  inclosure  flew  the  Stars  and  Stripes  and 
the  Tricolor. 

The  statue  was  an  object  of  special  decoration. 

The  monument,  in  addition  to  the  veiling  flags  of  the  United 
States  and  France,  was  artistically  festooned  with  red,  white, 
and  blue,  and  blue,  white,  and  red  bunting  in  great  profusion. 

At  its  foot  were  three  immense  wreaths  of  laurel  and  French 
colors,  tributes  from  the  patriotic-  societies  of  the  Sons  of  the 
American  Revolution  and  the  Daughters  of  the  American 
Revolution,  and  from  the  Society  of  Colonial  Dames,  which  had 
just  concluded  its  biennial  session,  many  members  remaining 
over  in  order  to  witness  the  ceremonies. 

/ 

AROUND   THE   STATUE 

At  each  angle  of  the  base  alternately  stood  an  American  and 
French  seaman  at  attention. 

Around  the  hollow  square,  of  which  the  monument  was,  the 
center,  at  intervals  of  a  few  paces,  was  stationed  a  cordon  of 
Minute  Men  in  the  uniform  of  the  Continental  Line. 


An  Impressive  Commemoration  77 

FRENCH   FLAG   OF   THE   ALLIANCE 

During  the  period  of  the  American  Revolution  France  was 
without  a  national  flag.  The  colors  and  heraldic  devices  of 
the  reigning  family  formed  the  standard  in  military  and  civic 
display  or  function.  The  royal  banner  of  Louis  IX,  or  St. 
Louis,  who  was  canonized  in  1297  for  his  efforts  to  rescue  the 
Holy  Sepulchre  in  Palestine  and  the  wisdom  and  justice  of 
his  rule  in  France,  was  blue,  powdered  with  fleur-de-lis  in  gold. 
The  fleur-de-lis  since  the  eleventh  century  has  been  the  device 
of  all  the  successive  sovereigns  of  France.  The  emblem,  how 
ever,  is  of  far  more  ancient  origin,  older,  it  is  claimed  by  anti 
quarians,  than  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  of  which  some  insist 
this  flower  to  be  emblematical. 

The  blue  field  ceased  to  be  powdered  with  fleur-de-lis  in  the 
reign  of  Charles  VI,  being  charged  only  with  three — that  is, 
two  and  one. 

The  white  standard  first  appeared  in  the  reign  of  Henry  IV. 
At  the  time  of  the  American  Revolution  each  French  regiment 
carried  two,  the  royal  one  being  called  "Le  Drapeau-Colonel," 
the  regimental  "Le  Drapeau  d'Ordonnance,"  with  a  device 
from  the  founder  or  province  of  the  regiment. 

A  form  of  royal  colors  was  a  white  cross  on  a  blue  field, 
sometimes  the  cross  and  sometimes  the  field  being  powdered 
with  fleur-de-lis. 

ROCH  AM  BEAU'S  FLAG 

The  royal  standard  borne  by  the  troops  of  ROCH  AM  BEAU 
consisted  of  a  white  field,  powdered  with  lilies  in  the  center  of 
an  indigo  blue  shield,  the  lilies  arranged  two  in  line  on  top 
and  one  below,  respectively,  the  shield  surmounted  by  a  crown 
held  on  either  side  by  a  winged  white  infant  figure  draped 
about  the  waist  and  waving  over  the  shoulder  a  ribbon  of 
blue  and  red.  The  flag  at  the  outbreak  of  the  French  Revo 
lution,  1789,  bore  a  white  cross  on  a  blue  field  with  a  fleur-de- 
lis  at  each  corner  and  the  legend  "  Patrie  et  liberte." 


78  An  Impressive  Commemoration 

FLAG   OF   THK   REPUBLIC 

The  Tricolor  displayed  at  the  unveiling  of  the  ROCHAMBKAU 
monument  at  Washington,  the  national  colors  of  the  Republic 
of  France,  was  introduced  during  the  French  Revolution. 

By  a  decree  of  1790  the  navy  flag,  it  was  declared,  should 
consist  of — 

three  equal  bands  placed  vertically,  that  next  the  staff  being  red,  middle 
white,  and  third  blue. 

In  1794  this  flag  was  abolished,  and  in  its  place  it  was 
ordered — 

the  national  flag  shall  be  formed  of  the  three  national  colors  in  equal 
bands  placed  vertically,  the  hoist  being  blue,  the  center  white,  and  fly  red. 

The  flag  used  by  Napoleon  in  the  resplendent  ceremony  of 
distribution  of  the  eagles  to  his  veterans  in  1804  showed  the 
three  colors  in  fess  (placed  horizontally),  but  the  old  arrange 
ment  was  soon  restored  and  remained  the  flag  of  the  army  and 
navy  during  the  Empire. 

Upon  the  return  of  royalty  it  was  again  abolished,  and  the 
flag  of  De  Bourbon  restored,  but  the  Tricolor  was  reintroduced 
in  1830,  the  same  as  used  in  the  unveiling  in  May,  1902,  of  the 
statue  of  the  commander  of  the  French  king's  battalions  of 
1780—1783,  at  the  capital  of  the  nation  which  he  so  largely 
assisted  in  putting  on  the  road  to  the  greatness  which  it  has 
since  achieved. 

ASSEMBLY 

A  battalion  of  French  seamen  with  their  band,  a  battalion  of 
United  States  engineer  troops,  and  a  battalion  of  marines  and 
sailors  with  the  Marine  Band,  took  up  the  positions  assigned  to 
them — massed  in  close  column  on  the  lawn  on  the  open  side  of 
the  inclosure  on  the  north,  facing  south,  and  looking  upon  the 
statue  and  the  President's  tribunal  beyond — with  the  head  of 
each  column  resting  on  the  west  line  of  the  quadrangle  formed 
by  the  stands.  The  north  line  being  left  open  and  clear,  the 
troops  were  in  position  to  witness  the  ceremony  and  hear  the 
addresses  of  the  speakers  and  melodies  of  the  bands. 


An  Impressive  Commemoration  79 

The  band  of  the  Gaulois  occupied  a  place  in  front  of  the 
French  sailors.  The  United  States  Marine  Baud  had  a  position 
in  the  space  at  the  foot  of  the  monument. 

The  stately  residences  opposite  on  the  west  were  elaborately 
dressed  with  American  and  French  colors,  adding  picturesque 
effect  to  the  scene. 

FRENCH    BATTALION 

The  French  battalion,  composed  of  about  125  sailors  from  the 
cuirasse  d'escadre  le  Gaulois ,  was  commanded  by  F.  M.  Urvoy, 
assisted  by  Ensign  Criech,  Cadets  Cayla  and  Marcenet,  and 
Adjutant  Creach. 

Their  uniform  consisted  of  a  blue  blouse  trimmed  with  red, 
blue  and  white  striped  shirts,  with  a  spreading  blue  linen 
collar  overlapping  the  blouse.  Their  hats  were  adorned  with 
a  small  red  tassel.  Each  carried  a  rifle  with  a  spear  bayonet. 

Their  band  numbered  40  men,  led  by  Ensign  Karren,  chief 
musician. 

L/ieut.  C.  L,.  Poor,  U.  S.  Navy,  was  special  aid  to  the 
French  battalion. 

PRIVILEGE  OP  TRANSIT  GRANTED 

In  anticipation  of  the  participation  of  a  foreign  force  in  the 
display  attending  the  unveiling  of  the  monument,  early  in 
May  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United  States,  Mr.  John 
Hay,  addressed  an  official  letter  to  the  governor  of  the  State 
of  Maryland,  Mr.  John  Walter  Smith,  asking  permission  for 
the  officers,  seamen,  and  marines  of  the  French  armored  cruiser 
Gaulois,  with  their  band  of  music,  to  land  at  Annapplis  about 
May  22,  and  to  pass  over  the  territory  of  the  State  of  Mary 
land,  between  the  city  of  Annapolis  and  the  District  of  Columbia; 
to  which  was  received  a  prompt  and  satisfactory  response. 

An  eager  throng  gathered  along  Pennsylvania  avenue  to 
witness  the  march  of  the  ' '  Fusileer  marines ' '  from  the  Gaulois, 
who  had  arrived  on  a  special  train.  The  battalion  was  pre 
ceded  by  the  band  of  the  ship  and  followed  by  two  small 
cannon.  The  excellent  movement  and  picturesque  costumes 


8o  An  Impressive  Commemoration 

of  the  French  marines  gave  rise  to  tense  enthusiasm.  Upon 
their  arrival  at  Lafayette  square,  where  were  deployed  detach 
ments  of  regular  troops,  marines,  and  the  National  Guard 
which  participated  in  the  ceremony,  the  French  battalion  was 
received  with  the  greatest  cordiality  by  the  American  officers, 
soldiers,  and  marines. 

ORDER   OP   ARRANGEMENTS 

Although  the  available  space  around  the  monument  was 
limited,  the  arrangements  for  the  convenience  of  those  invited 
to  be  present  and  the  troops  ordered  to  participate  were  in 
every  way  satisfactory  and  impressive. 

The  temporary  constructions  for  the  seating  of  the  distin 
guished  assemblage  were  arranged  on  three  sides  of  a  parallelo 
gram. 

STANDS 

The  grand  stand  (white)  for  the  use  of  the  President  and 
family  and  friends,  the  foreign  guests,  the  Cabinet,  the  higher 
officers  of  the  executive,  civil,  military,  and  naval  branches,  the 
judiciary  and  their  ladies,  ranged  from  east  to  west,  south  of 
the  monument,  open  to  the  north  and  sufficiently  close  to  admit 
of  the  unveiling  cord  being  drawn  from  a  position  near  the 
President. 

On  either  side  of  the  monument,  east  and  west,  at  right  an 
gles  to  the  main  stand  and  extending  north  and  south,  extended 
an  expansive  rising  platform  with  seats  for  guests  invited  by 
card.  That  on  the  east  (blue)  for  the  Senators,  and  their 
ladies,  societies,  and  citizens;  on  the  west  (red)  for  members  of 
the  House  of  Representatives  and  their  ladies. 

The  President's  stand  was  designed  with  rostrum  in  front  for 
the  use  of  the  speakers. 

The  wing  stands,  respectively,  were  divided  into  seven  sec 
tions,  with  as  many  passageways,  for  the  convenience  of  the 
guests  in  reaching  their  seats. 

The  inclosure  entrances  were  conveniently  placed  for  the 
accommodation  of  each  stand,  that  to  the  grand  stand  in  the 


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SOUTH    • 

An  Impressive  Commemoration  81 

southwest  angle,  near  which  was  stationed  the  United  States 
Marine  Band,  and  for  the  wings,  the  park  side  for  the  east  and 
Jackson  place  for  the  west. 

The  press  was  specially  provided  with  tables  and  seats  imme 
diately  under  the  space  for  the  speakers. 

The  stands  were  designed  to  seat  about  1,600  persons. 

Across  the  northern  end  the  French  and  American  seamen  and 
marines  and  a  battalion  of  United  States  Engineers,  with  the 
band  of  the  French  battle  ship  advanced,  were  drawn  up  in  full 
view  of  the  ceremonies. 

All  the  arrangements  for  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  the 
guests  and  spectacular  effects  were  under  the  direction  of  Col. 
Theodore  A.  Bingham,  U.  S.  Engineers,  master  of  ceremonies. 

INVITATIONS 

About  ten  days  in  advance  invitations  were  sent  to  about 
i, 600  persons,  representing  the  executive,  legislative,  and  judi 
cial  branches  of  the  Government,  the  guests  of  the  nation, 
diplomatic  corps,  officers  of  the  Army,  Navy,  and  Marine  Corps, 
and  resident  and  visiting  representatives. 

As  the  acceptances  were  received,  tickets  were  returned  in 
color  representing  the  stands:  Grand,  white;  east,  blue;  west, 
red;  lettered  to  correspond  with  the  passageway  and  num 
bered  to  indicate  the  seat. 

The  carriage  regulations  exhibited  excellent  judgment  in 
preventing  both  crowding  and  confusion.  The  police  orders 
also  insured  efficient  carrying  out  of  every  detail  of  arrival  and 
departure  without  crowding. 

The  arrival  of  the  invited  guests  began  early.  By  the  time  the 
President  and  the  guests  of  the  nation  were  announced  almost 
every  one  was  in  his  seat. 

AMERICAN    IRISH    HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

The  American  Irish  Historical  Society  of  New  York  and  New 
England,  numbering  about  250  members,  who  had  come  to  the 
Capital  to  participate  in  the  ceremonies  of  the  day,  were  received 
S.  Dot.  537,  59-1 6 


82  An  Impressive  Commemoration 

\ 
by  the  President  of  the  United  States  in  the  East  Room  of  the 

White  House.  After  presentation  of  the  members  by  Mr.  T. 
St.  John  Gaffney,  *of  New  York,  the  President  made  few  a 
remarks  congratulating  the  society  upon  its  presence  at  a  cele 
bration  of  events  in  which  Irishmen  participated,  having  among 
the  French  regiments  serving  in  America  such  valiant  names  as 
Dillon  and  Walsh. 

At  the  conclusion  the  society  in  a  body  proceeded  to  their 
place  in  the  assemblage  to  witness  the  unveiling. 

HONORS   TO   THE    FRENCH    MISSION 

As  the  time  drew  near  for  the  proceedings  to  begin,  a  blast 
of  bugles  and  tread  of  horse  signalized  the  approach  of  a  detach 
ment  of  United  States  cavalry  escorting  the  French  ambassador, 
General  Brugere,  Admiral  Fournier,  and  their  aids  and  civil 
associates.  As  the  members  of  the  Mission  were  escorted  to 
their  places  on  the  grand  stand  the  people  cheered  and  the 
United  States  Marine  Band  played  a  French  air. 

PRESIDENT   GREETED 

The  Presidential  party  assembled  at  the  White  House  about 
10.30  o'clock  in  the  morning.  A  few  minutes  before  n 
o'clock  the  guard  of  honor,  consisting  of  a  detail  from  the 
First  Regiment  of  Minute  Men,  in  the  uniform  of  the  Conti 
nental  Army,  commanded  by  Maj.  T.  H.  McKee,  drew  up  in 
front  of  the  Mansion,  as  an  escort  to  the  President. 

The  President  led  the  way,  accompanied  by  his  daughter 
Miss  Alice  Roosevelt,  Miss  Emily  Carow,  Secretaries  Hay, 
Shaw,  and  Root,  Attorney- General  Knox,  Postmaster- General 
Payne,  Secretaries  Moody,  Hitchcock,  and  Wilson,  and  Secre 
tary  Cortelyou,  passing  out  of  the  White  House  grounds  by 
the  west  gate  and  across  Pennsylvania  avenue  to  the  Presi 
dent's  stand. 

The  little  procession,  with  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  the 
nation  in  the  lead,  escorted  by  a  guard  of  honor  in  the 
buff  and  blue  of  the  struggling  States  of  1781,  presented  a 


82  An  Impressive  ( 

by  t:  lent  of  the  United  Sv  ^fom  of  the 

After  presentation  of  * .  T. 

•    New  York,   the   P-  \v  a 

•ie  society  upon  its  presen-  cele- 

11  participated,  b  > 

such  valiant  nan' 

ri  a  bod  to  their 


rting  the  French  am  i 
ournier,  and  their  aids  and  civil 

associates.     As  the  meml>ers  of  the  Mission  were  escorted  to 
their  pla&*N,E  AT  THE  MOMENT  OF  PULLING  THE  RELEASING 
United  States 


e  Conti- 
drew  up  in 
:ent. 

the  way,  accompanied  by  his  daughter 
•  t.    Miss   Emily  Carow,  Secretaries  i 

tl  TCuox,  Postmaster-General 

'itchcock,  and  \Y  ^ecre- 

passing-  out  of  the  Whit  unds  by 

ross  Pennsylvania  avenue  to  the  Presi- 

with  the   Chief    Magistrate  of    the 

nati  -^corted    by  a   guard   of    honor   in   the 

buff  -ling  States  of   1781,  presented   a 


An  Impressive  Commemoration  83 

picturesque    scene,  reminiscent    of    the    day   of    Washington 
and  ROCHAMBEAU. 

At  the  entrance  to  the  inclosure  the  President  was  met  by 
Col.  Theodore  A.  Bingham,  in  the  full-dress  uniform  of  the 
Corps  of  Engineers,  United  States  Army,  and  escorted  to  his  seat 
on  the  grand  stand,  the  Marine  Band  playing  the  "  President's 
March." 

PRESIDENT'S  STAND 

The  President  and  the  members  of  his  family  occupied  the 
stand  in  the  center  of  the  stand  on  the  south  side  of  the 
inclosure  facing  north,  with  the  veiled  statue  of  ROCHAMBEAU 
but  a  few  feet  distant  in  front,  the  members  of  the  Diplo 
matic  Corps  on  his  right;  Herr  Von  Holleben,  the  German 
ambassador;  M.  Jules  Cambon,  French  ambassador;  Count 
Cassini,  Russian  ambassador ;  Mayor  des  Planches,  Italian 
ambassador;  the  Austrian  and  Mexican  ambassadors;  envoys 
and  plenipotentiaries  of  the  nations,  and  other  members  in 
order. 

The  members  of  the  Cabinet  sat  on  the  President's  left  in 
the  order  of  statutory  precedence — State,  Treasury,  War, 
Attorney- General,  Post-Office,  Navy,  Interior,  Agriculture. 
Immediately  in  the  rear  of  the  ambassadors  sat  the  members 
of  the  French  Mission,  the  Countess  de  Rochambeau  having  a 
place  of  vantage  on  the  right  immediately  behind  the  President. 

In  front  near  the  President  sat  Reverend  Doctor  Stafford,  rep 
resenting  His  Eminence  Cardinal  Gibbons,  announced  to  give 
the  invocation,  and  Bishop  Satterlee,  to  give  the  benediction. 

The  President  and  other  representatives  of  the  Government 
and  Congress  of  the  United  States  were  in  black,  the  simplicity 
of  their  costumes  bringing  out  the  spectacular  effects  of  the 
uniforms  of  the  numerous  American  and  French  officers  who 
surrounded  the  President.  The  uniforms  of  the  French  army, 
which  were  not  known  to  the  United  States,  excited  most  lively 
curiosity.  The  red  pantaloons,  the  numerous  decorations,  and 
the  chapeaus  with  white  plumes,  particularly  that  of  General 
Brugere,  attracted  particular  attention,  as  did  the  casque  of 
Captain  Lasson,  officer  of  cuirassiers. 


84  An  Impressive  Commemoration 

HONORED    GUESTS 

The-members  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  Mission,  General  Brugere, 
Vice-Admiral  Fournier,  General  Chalendar,  the  military  and 
naval  aids,  and  civil  members  occupied  seats  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  President.  Senator  Wetmore  and  Representative  McCleary 
were  in  the  same  group.  Dispersed  throughout  the  stand  were 
the  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  the  higher 
officers  of  the  civil  arm  of  the  Government,  and  officers  of  the 
Army  and  Navy  of  general  or  admiral  rank. 

'CONGRESS  PRESENT 

The  Congress  having  adjourned  in  honor  of  the  event,  the 
attendance  of  Senators  and  Representatives  and  their  ladies  was 
very  large,  and  presented  an  interesting  reminder  of  the  summer 
day  when  the  Continental  Congress  stood  in  front  of  Independ 
ence  Hall  to  witness  ROCHAMBEAU  and  his  French  troops  march 
by  on  their  way  to  Yorktown. 


ORDER  OF  EXERCISES 


Invocation  by   His  Eminence  Cardinal   Gibbons, 
represented  by  Rev.  Dr.  Stafford 

Welcome  by  the  President  of  the  United  States 
Unveiling  of  statue  by  Countess  de  Rochambeau 

Music,     '/The    Marseillaise,"    by    United    States 
Marine  Band 

Presentation  of  the  sculptor,  M.  Hamar 

Remarks    by   His    Excellency   M.    Cambon,    the 
French  ambassador 

Music  by  the  French  marine  band 

Remarks   by  Gen.   Horace  Porter,  United  States 
ambassador  to  France 

Music  by  the  United  States  Marine  Band 

Address    by    the    Hon.     Henry    Cabot     Lodge, 
United  States  Senator. 

Music,    "The   Star    Spangled    Banner,"    by   the 
French  marine  band 

Remarks  by  General  Brugere 

Benediction  by  the  Right  Rev.  Henry  Y.  Satterlee, 
Bishop  of  Washington 


86 


INVOCATION  BY  CARDINAL  GIBBONS 


The  President  and  guests  being  seated,  Rev.  Dr.  D.  J.  Staf 
ford,  rector  of  St.  Patrick's  (Roman  Catholic)  Church,  repre 
senting  His  Eminence  Cardinal  Gibbons,  stepping  to  the  front, 
delivered  the  INVOCATION: 

Oh,  Lord  God,  Father  of  all  the  nations,  we  lift  our  hearts  in  gratitude 
to  Thee.  We  thank  Thee  for  our  progress,  for  our  national  glory,  for  our 
unbounded  resources,  and,  above  all,  for  our  equal  liberty.  Look  down 
upon  us  and  bless  us. 

We  pray  Thee,  bless  the  President  of  the  United  States,  our  Chief  Magis 
trate.  Shield  and  guard  him  in  the  love  of  all  the  people  and  let  Thy 
benediction  fill  his  soul  with  happiness  and  Thy  peace,  beyond  all 
understanding. 

Let  the  light  of  Thy  Divine  wisdom  direct  the  deliberations  of  Congress, 
and  shine  forth  in  all  the  laws  framed  for  our  rule  and  government. 

We  thank  Thee,  oh,  God,  that  in  the  hour  of  our  need  Thou  didst 
raise  up  for  us  a  friend,  a  helper,  and  a  comforter.  We  were  but  a  child 
then,  now  the  child  has  grown  into  a  giant,  and  the  gallant,  chivalrous, 
liberty-loving  friend  of  our  infancy  is  our  friend  still. 

We  beseech  Thee,  oh,  God,  bless  *the  President  of  the  French  Republic. 
Shower  down  Thy  blessings  upon  the  French  people.  Grant  that  the  two 
Republics  may,  under  Thy  gracious  Providence,  stand  in  truest  sense,  for 
liberty,  fraternity,  equality,  the  one  in  the  Old  World,  the  other  in  the  New, 
and  that.the  two  banners  may  everywhere  lead  the  march  of  civilization, 
and  diffuse  throughout  the  world  the  spirit  of  peace  and  national  well- 
being,  for  Thou  art  our  Father  and  our  God,  and  we  pray:  Our  Father, 
who  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be  Thy  name,  Thy  kingdom  come,  Thy  will 
be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven,  give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread,  and 
forgive  us  our  trespasses  as  we  forgive  those  who  trespass  against  us,  and 
lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  evil.  Amen. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  opening  prayer  the  President  stepped 
forward  amid  a  storm  of  applause.  For  some  moments  it  was 
impossible  for  him  to  proceed.  When  the  distinguished  audi 
tors,  representing  all  nations  abroad  and  every  State  at  home, 
gave  way  to  repeated  attempts  to  be  heard,  the  President  de 
livered  the  address  of  welcome. 

87 


88  Welcome  by  President  Roosevelt 

ADDRESS   OF  THE   PRESIDENT 

Mr.  'Ambassador,  and  you,  the  representatives  of  the  mighty  Republic 
of  France: 

J  extend  to  you  on  behalf  of  the  people  of  the  United  States  the  warmest 
and  most  cordial  greeting.  We  appreciate  to  the  full  all  that  is  implied  in 
this  embassy  composed  of  such  men  as  those  who  have  been  sent  over  here 
by  President  Loubet  to  commemorate  the  unveiling  of  the  statue  of  the 
great  Marshal  who,  with  the  soldiers  and  sailors  of  France,  struck  the  de 
cisive  blow  in  the  war  which  started  this  country  on  the  path  of  independ 
ence  among  the  nations  of  the  earth.  [Applause.]  I  am  sure  that  I  give 
utterance  to  the  sentiments  of  every  citizen  of  the  United  States,  of  every 
American  to  whom  the  honor  and  the  glory  of  our  Republic  in  the  past  as 
in  the  present  are  dear,  when  I  say  that  we  prize  this  fresh  proof  of  the 
friendship  of  the  French  people,  not  only  because  it  is  necessarily  pleasing 
to  us  to  have  the  friendship  of  a  nation  so  mighty  in  war,  so  mighty  in 
peace,  as  France  has  ever  shown  herself  to  be,  but  because  it  is  peculiarly 
pleasing  to  feel  that  after  a  century  and  a  quarter  of  independent  existence 
as  a  nation  the  French  Republic  should  feel  that  we  have  in  that  century 
and  a  quarter  justified  the  sacrifices  France  made  on  our  behalf.  [Ap 
plause.]  I  am  sure,  my  fellow-citizens,  that  you  welcome  the  chance 
which  brings  it  about  that  this  embassy  of  the  French  people  should 
come  to  our  shores  at  the  very  time  when  we  in  our  turn  have  done  our 
part  in  starting  on  the  path  of  independence  a  sister  Republic,  the 
Republic  of  Cuba.  [Applause.] 

Mr.  Ambassador,  the  American  people,  peculiarly  because  they  are  the 
American  people,  and  because  the  history  of  the  United  States  has  been 
so  interwoven  with  what  France  has  done  for  us,  but  also  because  they 
are  part  of  the  whole  world,  which  acknowledges  and  must  ever  acknowl 
edge  in  a  peculiar  degree  the  headship  of  France  along  so  many  lines 
in  the  march  of  progress,  of  civilization — the  American  people  through 
me  extend  their  thanks  to  you,  and  in  their  name  I  beg  to  express 
my  acknowledgment  to  the  embassy  that  has  come  here,  and  to  Presi 
dent  Loubet  and  all  of  the  French  nation,  both  for  the  deed  and  for  the 
magnanimous  spirit  that  lay  behind  the  doing  of  the  deed.  [Applause.] 

THE   UNVEILING 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  President's  address  the  tension  of 
interest  was  at  its  height.  All  eyes  focused  upon  the  hidden 
bronze  of  him  among  the  trio  who,  by  their  devotion  and  achieve 
ments,  made  the  struggle  for  American  independence  a  success — 
Washington,  Lafayette,  Rochambeau. 


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EMILE  LOUBET 
President  of  the  Republic  of  France 


88  Welcome  by  President  R&wvrU 

ADDRESS  OF  THE   PRESIDENT 

Mr.  Ambassador,  and  you,  the  representatives  of  the  iir.;?«t>  Republic 
EMILE  LOUBET 

President  of  the  Republic  of  Fra^ 

V. c  .;  o  the  full  a' 

Emile  Ix)ubet,  seventh  president  of  the  French  Republic,  was  born  in  1838  at  Mar- 
sanne,  a  village  nestled  among  vine-clad  hills,  mulberry  groves,  and  silk  industries, 
on  the  borders  of  a  small  stream,  which  flows  into  the  Rhone  from  the  east,  in  the 
Department  of  Drome,  southeastern  France.  sailors  of  1 

The  ancient  city  of  Valence,  the  capital,  lies  15  miles  north  by  west.  His  father,  a 
peasant  proprietor,  was  a  man  of  industry,  methods,  and  accumulation,  insomuch  that 
he  was  not  only  prosperous  in  business,  but  gave  his  son  the  benefit  of  a  liberal  bestow- 
ment  of  his  good  fortune  in  the  best  educational  facilities  afforded  by  the  institutions 
of  Paris.  There  the  young  man  rivaled  his  generous  parent  in  attention  strictly  to  duty 
by  rounding  out  a  highly  honorable  academic  career  by  a  course  of  law.  Having  grad 
uated,  he  returned  to  the  neighborhood  of  his  native  place  and  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  the  near-by  thriving  industrial  town  of  Montelimar,  capital  of  the 
arrondissement.  His  legal  lore  and  potential  pleading  not  only  won  many  clients,  but, 
more  important,  the  powerful  recognition  of  the  Paris,  I^yons  and  Mediterranean 
Railway,  by  appointment  as  counsel  for  that  great  corporation.  The  best  evidence 
of  his  worth  and  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  townsmen  was  his  choice  for  mayor  of 
Montelimar. 

In  1876,  then  38  years  of  age,  he  entered  public  life  as  member  of  the  Chamber  of 
Deputies.  In  politics  he  united  himself  with  the  group  known  as  the  "Republican 
left."  He  was  reelected  the  following  year  and  in  1881.  In  1885  he  was  chosen  senator. 
In  December,  two  years  after,  he  entered  the  cabinet  of  M.  Tirard  as  minister  of  public 
works,  but  his  career  was  brief,  owing  to  his  retirement  with  his  colleagues  in  the 
April  ensuing. 

During  the  following  five  years  he  took  no  part  in  public  aflairs,  although  his  promi 
nence  in  his  profession  and  influential  participation  in  the  political  movements  of  the 
time  kept  him  well  to  the  front. 

On  February  29,  1892,  President  Carnot,  his  personal  friend,  elevated  him  to  the  ex 
alted  and  responsible  post  of  premier,  succeeding  M.  de  Freycinet.  Singular  as  it  may 
seem,  instead  of  selecting  the  portfolio  of  the  ornate  post  of  foreign  affairs,  he  took  for 
himself  that  of  the  interior  as  more  congenial  to  his  tastes  and  direct  interests  of  the 
people.  He  successfully  disposed  of  several  problems  of  sufficient  magnitude  to  estab 
lish  his  claim  to  rank  among  the  first  men  of  France.  A  great  achievement  was  the 
disposition  of  the  complicated  questions  involved  in  the  miner's  strike  at  Carmaux.  It 
was  he  also  who  unearthed  the  unmitigated  Panama  scandals.  The  French  stock 
holders  and  the  public  generally  having  attained  such  a  high  pitch  of  indignation  for 
the  malfeasance,  wastefulness  of  expenditure,  indecision,  and  imbecility  which  had 
characterized  the  enterprise  that  a  favorable  vote  was  reached  in  the  Chamber  on  a 
resolution  in  trenchant  terms  declaring  the  Government  policy  too  nonaggressive. 
As  a  result  M.  lyoubet  resigned  the  following  November,  having  been  in  office  but 
nine  months.  Being  reelected  to  the  Senate,  he  was  chosen  its  president  in  1896  and 
again  in  1898. 

The  sudden  death  of  Felix  Faure  causing  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  President,  the 
national  assembly,  comprising  both  houses  of  Parliament,  in  joint  convention,  two  days 
after,  February  18,  1899,  chose  M.  I^oubet,  on  the  first  ballot,  President  of  the  Republic. 
The  sagacity  of  his  administration  has  not  only  greatly  strengthened  the  hold  of  the 
popular  form  of  Government,  but  has  almost  entirely  eliminated  the  monarchical 
party  from  French  politics.  '•>,(•  • 

p*,  y le  for  A  i n ,-r  lean  independence  a  success— 

*'  tit ,  Roch  a  nt  h  <•*  u . 


EMILE  LOUBET 
President  of  the  Republic  of  France 


Un  89 

A  wave  of  e xpectauc  •. }  uisiasm 

the  brilliant  assemble.  la  Conn 

forward  to  the  President. 

COMTESSE   DE   ROCHAMBKA  THE   CORD 

As  the  Comtesse  received  in  her  hand  thfe  cord  which  was  to 
release  the  enshrouding  colors  and  ex]x>se  to  view  the  commemo 
rative  effigy  of  the  great,  the  devoted,  the  beloved  ROCHAMBBAU 
there  was  a  deep  hush.  The  sailors  and  troops,  French  and 
American,  massed  in  the  vicinity,  stood. at  "Arms,  present." 

A  motion  loosed  the  holding  tie  and  sent  the  bunting  falling 
away,  revealing  the  features  and  form  of  ROCHAMBEAU,  pointing 
to  Mount  Vernon  in  the  distance,  the  home  and  tomb  of  his 
friend,  chief,  COMTESSE  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  (NEE  ROUXED 

Wife  of  Rene\  Comte  de  Rochambeau,  with  her  husband,  guest  of  the  Government  of 
the  United  States  at  the  dedication  of  the  monument  of  Marshal  I>B  ROCHAMBEAU 
at  Washington,  on  which  occasion  she  pulled  the  cord  which  released  .the  flags  enveiling 
the  statue. 

artillery,  booming  in  honor  of  the  climax  of  the  event. 

An  incident  gave  -added  sentiment  to  the  scene.  While 
cheer  after  cheer  went  up  in  unison  with  the  liberty -stirring 
strains  of  the  ' '  Le  Marseillaise, ' '  by  the  United  States  Marine 
Band,  in  emulation  of  the  grateful  sense  of  welcome  and  obli 
gation  of  Washington  and  his  countrymen,  the  receding  folds 
of  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  apparently  reluctant  to  part  from  one 
valiantly  upheld  it  in  tii;  ess,  clung  to  the 

e  the  plan  ck  the  chains  of 

>m  the  adolescent  giant  of  the  West. 

The  President,  obs  .rveral  American  ami  French  sea 

men    ei  ',se   the    clinging 

drapery,  am  i aimed: 

"  Leave  it  .  ^  to  the  hero  as 

he  did  to  us."     So  the  i!  ained  to  the  end 

of  the  exercises,  beautifully  festooning  the  charted  field  of  sur 
render  of  the  last  British  army  on  the  s  original  thirteen 
States  of  the  mighty  fabric  of  the  forty-  :momve: 
now. 


Unveiling  of  the  Statue  89 

A  wave  of  expectancy,  admiration,  and  enthusiasm  ran  through 
the  brilliant  assemblage  as  Mme.  la  Corntesse  de  Rochambeau 
came  forward  to  the  President. 

COMTESSE   DE   ROCHAMBEAU   PULLS  THE   CORD 

As  the  Comtesse  received  in  her  hand  the  cord  which  was  to 
release  the  enshrouding  colors  and  expose  to^iew  the  commemo 
rative  effigy  of  the  great,  the  devoted,  the  beloved  ROCHAMBEAU 
there  was  a  deep  hush.  The  sailors  and  troops,  French  and 
American,  massed  in  the  vicinity,  stood.at  "Arms,  present." 

A  motion  loosed  the  holding  tie  and  sent  the  bunting  falling 
away,  revealing  the  features  and  form  of  ROCHAMBEAU,  pointing 
to  Mount  Vernon  in  the  distance,  the  home  and  tomb  of  his 
friend,  chief,  and  companion  in  arms. 

Then  suddenly  arose  a  wild  shout.  Handkerchiefs  waved. 
The  ruffle  of  drums  was  heard.  Melody  gave  harmony  to  the 
loud  outbursts  of  sound.  Above  all  rose  the  reverberations  of 
artillery,  booming  in  honor  of  the  climax  of  the  event. 

An  incident  gave  added  sentiment  to  the  scene.  While 
cheer  after  cheer  went  up  in  unison  with  the  liberty -stirring 
strains  of  the  ' '  Le  Marseillaise, ' '  by  the  United  States  Marine 
Band,  in  emulation  of  the  grateful  sense  of  welcome  and  obli 
gation  of  Washington  and  his  countrymen,  the  receding  folds 
of  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  apparently  reluctant  to  part  from  one 
who  had  so  valiantly  upheld  it  in  time  of"  stress,  clung  to  the 
hand  which  bore  the  plan  of  attack  which  struck  the  chains  of 
servitude  and  slavery  from  the  adolescent  giant  of  the  West. 

The  President,  observing  several  American  and  French  sea 
men  engaged  in  vigorous  attempts  to  release  the  clinging 
drapery,  amid  the  sensation  of  the  movement  exclaimed: 

"  Leave  it  where  it  is!  Leave  it!  It  clings  to  the  hero  as 
he  did  to  us. ' '  So  the  flag  appropriately  remained  to  the  end 
of  the  exercises,  beautifully  festooning  the  charted  field  of  sur 
render  of  the  last  British  army  on  the  soil  of  the  original  thirteen 
States  of  the  mighty  fabric  of  the  forty-five  Commonwealths 
now. 


90  Unveiling  of  the  Statue 

HAMAR   APPLAUDED 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  impromptu  interlude  in  the  formal 
proceedings  of  the  day,  the  youthful  sculptor,  M.  Fernand 
Hamar,  was  brought  forward  and  presented  to  the  vast  con 
course  of  admiring  spectators  of  his  work,  who  gave  him  an 
ovation  of  prolonged  applause,  in  response  to  which  he  bowed 
in  grateful  appreciation. 

ADDRESS  OF  THE  FRENCH  AMBASSADOR 

M.  Cambon,  representing  the  "Government  and  people  of 
France' '  at  the  capital  of  the  ' '  Government  and  people  of  the 
United  States,  "in  the  full  dress  and  insignia  of  his  ambassa^ 
dorial  rank  and  service,  advancing  to  the  rostrum,  in  the  lan 
guage  of  the  diplomatic  world,  said: 

DISCOURS    DE   SON    EXCEIvI/ENCE     M.    JUICES    CAMBON,    AMBASSADEUR    DE 
FRANCE,    A    I,' INAUGURATION   DU   MONUMENT   DE   ROCHAMBEAU 

Iv'art  de  la  France  et  la  ge"ne*rosite*  du  Congres  am£ricain  se  sont  unis 
pour  Clever  ce  monument  a  la  me"moire  du  marechal  DE  ROCHAMBEAU. 
Ainsi  se  trouve  glorifie  le  general  de  I'arme'e  francaise  qui  combattit  pour 
1'independance  de  I'AmeYique  sous  les  ordres  de  Washington.  La  nation 
ame'ricaine  avait  de"ja,  et  non  loin  d'ici,  consacr£  la  gloire  des  jeunes  et 
enthousiastes  franfais  qui,  des  le  de"but  et  n'e'coutant  que  le  vceu  secret  de 
toute  la  nation  francaise,  apporterent  avec  Lafayette  leur  e"pe"e  aux  treize 
colonies.  II  £tait  juste  que  ceux-la  aussi  fussent  honores  qui  vinrent  ici 
par  1'ordre  du  Gouvernement  de  la  France  et  qui,  obe*issant  a  leur  devoir, 
le  remplirent  tout  entier  et  assurerent  le  succes  definitif.  Dans  la  per- 
sonne  de  ROCHAMBEAU  c'est  I'arme'e  de  la  France,  ce  sont  ses  regiments, 
ses  officiers  inconnus,  ses  soldats  obscurs  qui  sont  glorifies  avec  leur  chef. 

L'honneur  est  pour  moi  bien  grand  de  prendre  ici  la  parole  comme 
ambassadeur  de  la  Republique  francaise  et  de  vous  remercier  tous  ici  qui 
representez  le  Gouvernement,  la  magistrature  et  le  Congres  des  Etats-Unis 
de  1'hommage  rendu  a  1'homme  qui  fit  triompher  pour  la  derniere  fois 
le  drapeau  fleurdelys^  de  la  vieille  France.  Aujourd'hui  la  Republique 
franjaise  a  envoy^  vers  vous  une  mission  qui  a  pour  chef  le  plus  Eminent 
de  nos  officiers  ge"neraux,  le  general  Brugere,  avec  lui  1'armee  et  la  marine 
fran5aise,  avec  une  sorte  de  pie*t£  nationale  fetent  la  m^moire  de  leurs  aines 
serviteurs  comme  elles  de  la  liberte. 


f 


the  Statue 


ROCHAMBBAU  fut  un  ch  severe,  c<  i 
de  la  vie  de  ses  soldats;  il  raj                           -fois  aux  j, 

touraient,  que  pendant  le  co-  -srue  cam. 

homnies  e"taient  morts  s<  ;  ne  pouvait  se  rep." 

la  mort  d'aucun  d'eux.     Par  la  ii  ir  notre  arm€e,  1'estiine  de 

votre  nation  et  pour  lui-menie  l'aJr  'lington. 

Ainsi  ce  monument,  qui  ne  sembl  ,uer  des  souvenirs  de 

guerre,  est,  par  le  caractdre  de  la  lutte  /-t  de  1'homme  qu'il 

glorifie,  un  monument  d'union  en  '.-*,     Aujourd'hui  comme 

il  y  a  cent  ans  les  soldats  et  les  mam,  e  et  des  Ktats-Unis 
sont  c6te  a  c6te,  ils  entoM.  JULES  CAMBON 


Ambassador  of  the  Republic  of  France  to  the  UnneJ&hte*.     Grand  officer  6f  t$* 

rant  leur  gloire  commune,  i  1     Of  HOTIO*  au  n 


Born  at,  Paris,  1845;  began  life  as  an  advocate  at  Paris,  where  he  was  secretary  of  the 
conference  of  advocates.  During  the  war  of  1870  he  served  as  captain  in  the  Corps 
des  Mobiles  de  .Seine  et  M.trne  and  participated  in  all  the  combats  aronnd  Parts.  After  • 
the  war  he  entered  the  administration  as  auditor  to  the  council  of  state  and  chief . of.  '•• 
the  cabinet  of  the  minister  of  public  instruction.  He  was  afterwards  attached  to  the 
general  government  of  Algiers,  at  the  head  of  which  was  General  Chanzy.  He  was 
prefect  of  the  province  of  Constantine  in  1878,  in  which  capacity  he  filled  several  mis 
sions  with  distinction,  from  which  he  was  called  to  the  prefecture  of  police  of  Paris  as 
secretary-general.  Iyater  he  was  prefect  of  the  department  of  the  north,  from  which  toe 
passed  to  the  same  office  of  that  of  the  Rhone,  two  of  the  most  important  departments 
of  France.  In  1891  he  was  named  governor-general  of  Algiers,  which  post  he  filled  with 
great  success  for  seven  years:  When  he  retired  he  was  appointed  honorary  governor- 
general  and  ambassador  to  the  United  States  at  Washington.  He  represented  Spain 
as  plenipotentiary  during  the  preliminaries  of  peace  in  1898,  and  acted  as  intermediary 
between  that  power  and  the  United  States.  In  August,  1902,  he  was  transferred  to 
Madrid  as  ambassador  of  the  Republic. 

Un  peu  plus  d'humanite*  est  entr£  dans  k-s  rapport    -it      jnmples  entre 
eux,  et  il  y  a  trois  ahs  nous  avons  vu  les  represrr  ,us  ies  pays  se 

re*unir  pour  chercher  les  moyens  d' assurer  le  inai'  paix  entre  les 

nations.     Par  une  heureuse  coincidence  au  mou,  '<>    1* 

'•ouverain  qui  avait 
^ident  de  la  Re*publique  franca ; 
Pe"tersbourg. 

Ainsi  se  manifestent  sur  k-s   points    K 
monies  sentiments 
puissantes  nai 

Ce  ne  sont  pas  la  dc 
prend  plus  conscience  de  lui-nu 
le  troubler,  et  quand  on  mi 
et  ROCHAMBEAU  combatta- 
peut  juger  qu'ils  n'ont  p 

Ce  monument  en  •.<;;*J*c»ri- 

viendront  apr^s  n< 


Je  mcfl 
>B  1o 

•3JII3  9f! 


nt   nmi< 
JlA     .?.hr,cl  hrtwo'ii 

1o  fbtu 


^••j^^Bhonr jaib  ifiiw  ai 


arf}  o? 

[       .9DfIB-rH 


obBaaBtfntB  bne   J 
grthnb  y-tBl 
briB  i^woq 

••  ^.asdmB  a^ 


Unveiling  of  the  Statue  91 

ROCHAMBEAU  fut  un  chef  exact,  discipline,  severe,  courageux  et  soucieux 
de  la  vie  de  ses  soldats;  il  rappelait  quelquefois  aux  jeunes  gens  qui  1'en- 
touraient,  que  pendant  le  cours  de  sa  longue  carriere  militaire  15,000 
hommes  etaient  morts  sous  ses  ordres,  mais  qu'il  ne  pouvait  se  reprocher 
la  mort  d'aucun  d'eux.  Par  la  il  conquit,  pour  notre  arm^e,  1'estime  de 
votre  nation  et  pour  lui-meme  1'affection  de  votre  g^neVal  Washington. 

Ainsi  ce  monument,  qui  ne  semble  destine"  qu'a  eVoquer  des  souvenirs  de 
guerre,  est,  par  le  caractere  de  la  lutte  qu'il  rappelle  et  de  1'homme  qu'il 
glorifie,  un  monument  d'union  entre  deux  peuples.  Aujourd'hui  comme 
il  y  a  cent  ans  les  soldats  et  les  marins  de  la  France  et  des  I$tats-Unis 
sont  cote  a  cote,  ils  entourent  ce  monument,  ils  marchent  sous  le  meme 
commandement,  ils  m£lent  ensemble  leurs  chants  nationaux,  et,  en  hono- 
rant  leur  gloire  commune,  ils  donnent  au  monde  1'exemple  de  la  fide'lite' 
dans  1'amitie". 

Cette  ami  tie"  vous  nous  1'avez  prouvee:  Un  £  vehement  tragique,  une 
catastrophe  telle  que  le  monde  n'en  a  point  connu  depuis  vingt  siecles, 
vient  de  frapper  les  Antilles  francaises.  L,e  President  des  Etats-Unis,  le 
Congres  et  la  nation  americaine  ont  rivalise"  de  g^nerosite"  et  de  prompti 
tude  pour  secourir  nos  malheureux  concitoyens.  Qu'il  me  soit  permis  de 
saisir  cette  occasion  solennelle  et  de  remercier  publiquement  au  nom  de 
mon  Gouvernement  et  de  mon  pays,  vous,  Monsieur  le  President,  et  le 
peuple  des  Etats-Unis  tout  entier. 

Par  la  vous  avez  montre"  que  quelque  chose  de  nouveau  e*tait  n£  entre 
les  nations;  qu'un  lien  de  sympathie  de'sinte'resse'e  et  de  bonte"  pouvait  les 
unir  et  que  les  ide"es  de  justice  et  de  liberte  pour  lesquelles  nos  peres  avaient 
combattu  ensemble  il  y  a  cent-vingt  ans  avaient  fructifie  dans  le  cosur  des 
hommes. 

Un  peu  plus  d'humanite"  est  entre"  dans  les  rapports  des  peuples  entre 
eux,  et  il  y  a  trois  ans  nous  avons  vu  les  repre"sentants  de  tous  les  pays  se 
re"unir  pour  chercher  les  moyens  d'assurer  le  maintien  de  la  paix  entre  les 
nations.  Par  une  heureuse  coincidence  au  moment  meme  ou  je  parle,  le 
jeune  et  ge"nereux  souverain  qui  avait  convoque  le  Congres  de  la  paix  a  la 
Haye  et  le  President  de  la  Re"publique  francaise  se  trouvent  re"unis  a  Saint- 
Pe"tersbourg. 

Ainsi  se  manifestent  sur  les  points  les  plus  e'loigne's  de  la  terre  les 
memes  sentiments  d'union  entre  les  repre"sentants  les  plus  Sieve's  de  trois 
puissantes  nations. 

Ce  ne  sont  pas  la,  des  manifestations  steriles.  Le  monde  a  mesure  qu'il 
prend  plus  conscience  de  lui-meme  est  plus  severe  pour  ceux  qui  veulent 
le  troubler,  et  quand  on  mesure  1'oeuvre  accompli  depuis  que  Washington 
et  ROCHAMBEAU  combattaient  ensemble  pour  le  bien  de  rhumanite*,  on 
peut  juger  qu'ils  n'ont  pas  combattu  en  vain. 

Ce  monument  en  portera  te"moignage  aux  yeux  des  generations  qui 
viendront  apres  nous. 


92  Unveiling  of  the  Statue 

ADDRESS   OF  HIS  EXCEI,I,ENCY  JUICES   CAMBON 
[Translation] 

The  art  of  France  and  the  generosity  of  an  American  Congress  are 
joining  this  day  in  the  erection  of  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  Marshal 
DE  ROCHAMBEAU.  Thus  is  a  fitting  tribute  paid  to  the  French  military 
leader  who  fought  under  Washington  for  America's  independence.  But 
a  short  time  since  the  American  people  had  consecrated  the  glorious 
memory  of  those  young  and  enthusiastic  French  patriots  who,  fired  with 
an  inspiration  which  but  echoed  the  silent  wish  of  the  entire  French 
nation,  had  from  the  very  dawn  of  the  struggle  brought  their  swords 
with  Lafayette  to  the  service  of  the  thirteen  colonies.  It  was  just  that 
honor  should  be  rendered  also  to  those  warriors  who  came  hither  by  order 
of  the  Government  of  France,  and  who,  understanding  their  duty,  ful 
filled  it  without  reserve  and  insured  tfre  final  success  of  the  patriotic 
enterprise.  In  the  person  of  ROCHAMBEAU  we  glorify,  jointly  with  their 
commander,  the  army  of  France,  its  regiments,  its  officers  unknown,  its 
obscure  soldiery. 

It  is  a  very  great  honor  for  me  to  speak  here  as  ambassador  of  the 
French  Republic  and  to  express  to  you  all  to-day,  who  represent  here 
the  Government,  the  magistracy,  and  the  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
our  appreciation  of  the  homage  which  you  are  now  paying  to  the  man 
who  carried  to  their  closing  triumph  the  fleur-de-lis  of  ancient  France. 
To-day  the  French  Republic  sends  you  a  Mission  which  is  headed  by  the 
most  eminent  of  our  general  officers — General  Brugere.  We  must  behold  in 
him  the  French  army  and  navy  advancing,  with  a  sort  of  national  piety, 
to  celebrate  the  memory  of  their  elders — devotees,  like  themselves,  of 
liberty. 

koCHAMBEAU  was  a  strict  disciplinarian,  a  severe  and  courageous  com 
mander,  careful  of  the  lives  of  his  men.  He  was  wont  at  times  to  re 
mark  to  the  young  men  around  him  that  during  the  long  course  of  his 
military  career  15,000  men  had  died  under  him,  but  that  he  could  not 
reproach  himself  with  the  death  of  a  single  one  of  these.  Thus,  he 
earned  for  our  army  the  esteem  of  your  people  and  won  for  himself  the 
affection  and  devotion  of  your  great  Washington. 

Hence  it  is  that  this  monument,  which  in  appearance  seems  only 
destined  to  evoke  the  recollection  of  warlike  deeds,  becomes,  by  the  char 
acter  of  the  struggle  which  it  recalls  and  of  the  man  whom  it  glorifies, 
a  monument  and  pledge  of  union  between  two  nations.  To-day,  just,  as 
they  did  one  hundred  and  twenty  years  ago,  the  soldiers  and  sailors  of 
France  and  of  the  United  States  stand  side  by  side;  they  surround  this 
monument;  they  march  under  one  and  the  same  command;  they  blend  in 
one -common  chord  their  national  hymns,  and  in  celebrating  their  common 
glory  they  give  the  world  an  example  of  fidelity  in  friendship. 


Unveiling  of  the  Statue  93 

This  friendship  you  have  proven  to  us.  The  French  Antilles  have  just 
suffered  the  shock  of  a  tragic  event,  of  a  catastrophe  the  like  of  which 
the  world  has  not  witnessed  for  twenty  centuries.  The  President  of  the 
United  States,  Congress,  and  the  American  people  have  vied  with  one 
another  in  generosity  and  promptness  to  send  relief  to  our  stricken  coun 
trymen.  Permit  me  to  avail  myself  of  this  solemn  occasion  and  to  thank 
publicly,  in  the  name  of  my  Government  and  country,  you  yourself, 
Mr.  President,  and  the  entire  population  of  these  United  States. 

You  have  shown  by  this  act  that  something  new  had  taken  birth  between 
the  nations,  that  they  might  be  united  by  a  bond  of  disinterested  sympa 
thy  and  of  mutual  good  will,  and  that  those  ideals  of  justice  and  of  liberty 
for  which  our  fathers  fought  and  bled  together  one  hundred  and  twenty 
years  since  had  really  borne  fruit  in  the  hearts  of  men. 

A  little  more  humanity  has  won  its  way  into  international  relations,  and 
three  years  ago  we  beheld  representatives  from  all  nations  gathered  together 
to  devise  means  of  insuring  the  maintenance  of  peace  between  the  nations. 
It  is  a  happy  coincidence  that,  even  while  I  am  speaking  here,  the  youth 
ful  and  generous  sovereign  who  had  summoned  the  peace  conference  at 
The  Hague  and  the  President  of  the  French  Republic  are  together  in 
St.  Petersburg.  Thus  we  may  behold  everywhere,  even  in  the  remotest 
regions  of  the  earth,  a  manifest  expression  of  the  same  sentiments  of  union 
by  and  between  the  highest  and  supreme  representatives  of  nations. 

Nor  are  these  mere  barren  manifestations.  The  world,  gradually  gain 
ing  in  self-consciousness,  begins  to  frown  more  and  more  severely  on  those 
who  seek  to  disturb  its  peace;  and  when  we  measure  the  work  accom 
plished,  and  the  advance  made  since  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU  fought 
together  for  the  good  of  humanity,  we  may  well  conclude  that  they  have 
not  combated  in  vain. 

This  monument  shall  bear  witness  to  this  fact,  and  shall  endure  as  a 
symbol  thereof  in  the  eyes  of  the  generations  to  come. 

A  light  fall  of  rain  during  part  of  Ambassador  Cambon's  re 
marks  in  no  wise  dampened  the  enthusiasm  of  the  occasion  and 
but  temporarily  gave  it  a  somber  transformation  by  the  sudden 
appearance  of  a  sea  of  umbrellas,  in  place  of  the  thousands  of 
earnest  faces  beaming  with  love  of  country  and  gratitude  to 
France. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  French  ambassador's  address  the 
French  band  performed  "I,es  Chasseresses "  (The  Huntress) 
one  of  Leo  Delibes's  most  sprightly  dance  movements. 

In  harmony  with  the  remarks  of  the  ambassador  of  France 
the  American  ambassador  continued  the  volume  of  reminiscent 
and  patriotic  oratory. 


94  Unveiling  of  the  Statue 


ADDRESS   OF   GENERAL   PORTER. 

Two  years  ago  it  became  my  pleasant  duty  to  take  part  in  the  dedication 
of  the  statue  of  the  distinguished  French  Marshal  erected  in  his  native 
city,  Vendome.  When  upon  that  occasion  I  saw  our  country's  flags  every 
where  displayed  from  the  housetops,  heard  our  national  airs  played  through 
all  the  streets,  and  witnessed  the  touching  demonstrations  of  the  people 
without  regard  to  class,  expressive  of  their  sympathy  for  America,  I  felt 
that  the  effect  of  the  treaty  of  friendship  and  alliance  made  a  century  and 
a  quarter  ago  was  still  potent  for  good. 

Upon  returning  from  the  land  of  ROCHAMBEAU  it  is  an  especial  pleasure 
to  participate  in  the  inauguration  of  his  statue  in  the  land  of  Washington. 

Two  countries  claim  a  share  in  the  glory  which  illuminated  his  career. 
His  remains  repose  on  the  banks  of  the  I/oire ;  it  is  fitting  that  his  statue 
should  stand  on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac. 

In  the  heart  of  the  nation's  capital,  in  the  presence  of  this  vast  assem 
blage  of  representative  citizens  of  the  Old  World  and  the  New,  in  memory 
of  a  contest  in  which  French  and  American  blood  moistened  the  same  soil 
in  battling  for  a  common  cause,  we  meet  to  dedicate  a  statue  in  honor  of 
a  hero  of  two  continents — the  illustrious  ROCHAMBEAU. 

Its  purpose  is  to  recall  the  record  of  imperishable  deeds,  to  testify  that 
his  name  is  not  a  dead  memory,  but  a  living  reality;  to  quicken  our  sense 
of  appreciation  and  emphasize  the  fidelity  of  our  affection.  In  erecting 
yonder  statue  in  honor  of  this  great  representative  soldier,  America  has 
raised,  constructively,  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  every  Frenchman 
who  fought  for  the  cause  of  her  national  independence.  Its  dedication 
celebrates  the  joint  victory  which  terminated  a  struggle  that  gave  freedom 
to  the  American  Colonies  and  consecrated  all  the  new  world  eventually  to 
liberty  and  the  rights  of  man. 

To  fully  appreciate  the  genuineness  of  ROCHAMBEAU'S  character  as 
exemplified  in  his  American  campaign,  we  must  recollect  that  he  was  a 
member  of  the  old  French  nobility  and  the  wearer  of  decorations  bestowed 
by  royal  hands,  yet  coming  here  to  gain  battles  in  the  interest  of  advanced 
republican  principles.  It  was  not  his  own  country  for  which  he  was  fight 
ing;  he  had  no  intention  of  remaining  here  to  share  in  the  prosperity 
which  would  follow  success;  he  therefore  did  not  have  the  powerful  stim 
ulus  of  patriotism  to  animate  him.  He  came  to  our  shores  with  a  proud 
.  army,  handsomely  equipped,  brilliantly  uniformed,  and  disciplined  in  the 
rigid  school  of  a  leading  military  power  of  the  Old  World,  to  find  himself 
associated  with  the  modest  yeomanry  of  the  Colonies,  who  constituted  the 
American  forces,  who  were  not  supplied  with  clothing  enough  to  cover 
their  honorable  wounds,  and  the  march  of  whose  shoeless  battalions 
could  be  traced  by  the  blood  which  flowed  from  their  lacerated  feet. 

Frequent  communication  with  France  was  impossible,  and  ROCHAM 
BEAU  had  been  given  almost  unrestricted  liberty  of  action.  Under  these 


,frrr 

oJ  abfits  bv  •  ni 

YTiiJBrir.^  TI 
-oeni  IBIOJ 
,dmoT  s'Jnr/rO  Ir  i 
c  bnr 


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,od8i  inio^  JaaW 

•  r 
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i 


94  Unveiling  of 


Two  years  ago  it  became  my  pleasant  ;t  in  the  dedication 

>f  the  statue  of  the  distinguished  in  his  native 

When  upon  that  o.  y's  flags  e\ 

n  the  housetops,  heard  our  nal.  layed  thr 

:ing  demonstrations  of  the  j> 

>athy  for  America,  I  felt 
a  century  and 


• 

orld  and  t 
GENERAL  HORACE  PORTER 

Born  in  Huntingdon,  Pa.,  in  1837.  After  a  scientific  course  at  Harvard,  graduated  at 
West  Point  1860,  and  served  through  the  civil  war  in  every  commissioned  grade  to 
brigadier-general.  He  was  awarded  the  Congressional  medal  of  honor  for  gallantry 
at  Chickamauga.  Was  private  secretary  to  President  Grant  1869-1877.  Orator  at  inau 
guration  of  Washington  Arch,  New  York,  1895;  dedication  of  General  Grant's  Tomb, 
New  York,  1897;  unveiling  of  Rochambeau  statue,  Washington,  1902;  and  at  centennial 
foundation  of  West  Point  Military  Academy,  1902. 

• 

the  right- 

;•;•  iracter  as 

exvmpttf  :  that  he  was  a 

owed 

interest  of  advanced 
was  fight- 

n  of  :e  in  the  prosperity 

the  powerful  stim- 
•rotid 

!ied  in  the 
•rid,  to  find  himself 
who  constituted  the 
ig  enough  to  cover 
battalions 
lacerated 

'.possible,  and  ROCHAM- 
BKAf  L'nder  these 


Unveiling  of  the  Statue  95 

circumstances  a  man  with  less  modesty  and  magnanimity  of  character 
and  a  less  earnest  spirit  of  accommodation,  might  have  been  overbearing, 
arrogant,  and  indisposed  to  look  with  favor  upon  plans  presented  by  the 
American  commander;  but  he  manifested  from  the  outset  an  undisguised 
willingness  to  adopt  all  measures  which  might  facilitate  the  joint  military 
operations  upon  this  difficult  theater  of  war  and  sank  all  considerations 
other  than  those  which  would  conduce  to  the  complete  success  of  the 
allied  armies. 

In  all  their  intercourse  they  both  showed  themselves  adherents  of  the 
principle  that  it  is  time  to  abandon  the  path  of  ambition  when  it  becomes 
so  narrow  that  two  can  not  walk  it  abreast. 

ROCHAMBEAU,  in  landing  upon  our  shores,  defined  his  policy  toward  the 
Americans  in  the  comprehensive  words,  "  I  am  the  friend  of  their  friends, 
and  the  foe  of  their  foes." 

His  modesty  was  proverbial.  He  says  in  his  memoirs,  in  speaking  of 
the  surrender  of  Yorktown,  "Lord  Corn  wall  is  was  ill  and  General  O'Hara 
marched  out  at  the  head  of  the  garrison.  On  arriving,  he  presented  his 
sword  to  me.  I  pointed  opposite,  to  General  Washington,  at  the  head  of 
the  American  Army,  and  I  said  that  the  French  army,  being  auxiliary 
upon  that  continent,  it  was  to  the  American  general  that  he  must  look  for 
his  orders." 

There  is  a  mute  eloquence  in  the  very  attitude  of  yonder  statue  which 
speaks  of  his  accustomed  modesty.  The  outstretched  arm,  which  in  life 
had  so  often  pointed  out  the  path  to  victory,  is  now  extended  toward 
Mount  Vernon,  as  if  obeying  the  generous  impulses  of  the  living  subject's 
heart  in  diverting  attention  from  himself  to  his  illustrious  brother  in  arms. 

ROCHAMBEAU  left  this  country  crowned  with  the  laurels  of  success  and 
the  bearer  of  every  token  of  recognition  which  a  grateful  country  could 
bestow.  If  he  were  permitted  to  return  to  earth,  he  would  see  in  the 
matchless  prosperity  of  the  country  an  ample  vindication  of  the  princi 
ples  of  government  for  which  the  battles  in  America  were  fought.  He 
would  find  that  the  13  feeble  colonies  had  grown  to  45  vigorous  States; 
that  the  3,000,000  of  people  had  been  swollen  to  85,000,000;  that  the 
population  had  been  strengthened  by  an  interweaving  of  the  stoutest 
fibers  of  other  nations  and  nurtured  by  the  best  blood  of  many  lands;  that 
the  flag  which  had  once  struggled  for  bare  existence  in  a  few  Atlantic 
States  had  moved  across  a  vast  continent,  and  had  been  planted  even  in 
the  opposite  ends  of  the  earth.  He  would  find  here  all  things  changed, 
except  the  sentiments  of  gratitude  for  his  services.  These  will  be  ever 
lasting.  Living,  he  dwelt  in  the  affections  of  his  American  comrades, 
dead  he  is  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  their  posterity,  for  the  friendship 
of  the  fathers  is  a  precious  legacy  to  the  sons,  and  a  common  heritage  of 
ancient  glory  can  never  be  divided. 

This  statue  is  not  simply  to  commemorate  war,  but  to  typify  peace  and 
good  will  between  the  newest  Republic  of  the  Old  World  and  the  oldest 


96  Unveiling  of  the  Statue 

Republic  of  the  New  World.  Seas  made  us  distant,  comradeship  has  made 
us  near.  This  inauguration  takes  place  beneath  the  three  resplendent 
colors,  which  at  the  present  day  are  those  of  the  respective  banners  of  the 
sister  Republics.  Their  folds  have  a  right  to  be  placed  in  close  touch,  for 
the  old  flags  which  they  represent  were  interlaced  in  battle,  waved  together 
in  victory,  and  were  intertwined  in  peace.  May  the  ruthless  hand  of 
discord  never  rend  them  asunder. 

Let  me  close  by  quoting  the  eloquent  words  of  President  I/oubet,  the 
distinguished  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  French  Republic,  spoken  by  him 
two  years  ago  at  the  inauguration  of  the  statue  of  L,afayette,  the  gift  of 
the  American  school  children  to  the  city  of  Paris:  "This  friendship,  born 
in  the  comradeship  of  arms,  has  developed  and  grown  stronger  during  the 
century  which  is  ending;  the  generations  which  succeed  will  not  suffer  it 
to  grow  weaker!  " 

A  vigorous  applause  greeted  the  termination  of  Ambassador 
Porter's  eloquent  words  of  exaltation  of  the  deeds  of  ROCHAM- 
BKAU  and  his  men  ashore,  and  of  the  valor  of  the  soldiers  of 
the  sea  under  De  Kstaing,  De  Ternay,  De  Barras,  and  De  Grasse 
afloat.  The  United  States  Marine  Band  rendered  the  stirring 
notes  of  ' '  Hail  to  the  Spirit  of  Liberty. ' ' 

The  entente  cordiale  of  the  two  nations  reached  a  climax 
in  the  oration  of  the  day  by  Henry  Cabot  Lodge ,  a  Senator  of 
the  United  States,  from  Massachusetts,  who  was  most  cordially 
received  as  he  made  his  salutatory  bow  in  entering  upon  the 
delivery  of  his  eloquent  lines. 

ORATION  OF  SENATOR  LODGE. 

% 

Statecraft  has  a  cynical  maxim  that  there  is  no  such  thing  as  gratitude 
between  nations.  If  we  must  accept  this  as  true  of  those  practical  deal 
ings  when  sentiment  comes  into  hopeless  collision  with  self-interest,  we 
may  at  least  say  that  no  nation  really  great  will  ever  hesitate  to  make 
public  acknowledgment  of  its  obligations  to  others  in  the  past.  The  new 
world  of  North  America  has  had  a  long  and  close  connection  with  the  peo 
ple  of  France.  At  the  very  dawn  of  the  sixteenth  century  Breton  fishermen 
had  followed  in  the  track  of  the  Cabots,  and  were  plying  their -dangerous 
trade  off  the  coast  of  Newfoundland.  Thirty  years  later  Cartier  was  in 
the  St.  Lawrence  laying  the  foundation  of  New  France  by  the  mighty 
river  of  the  north.  When  the  century  had  just  passed  its  meridian  the 
Huguenots  came  to  Florida,  and  the  great  name  of  Coligny  links  itself 
with  our  history  as  the  inspirer  of  distant  expeditions  to  the  untrodden 
shores  of  America,  even  when  France  herself  was  torn  with  the  wars  of 


tatuc 


97 


religion.     It  is  a  da;  11-nigh  forgotten  now,  which 

comes  up  i  .iral 

of  France.     There  ii  l^audon- 

niere  and  then  ;  the 

settlements  they  foti  the 

surprise  and  slaught< 

gion,  and  then  a  f<-  the 

Spanish  forts,  and 
blood  and  swing  on  gibi 
avenger.     Thus  driven  li 
the  heritage  of  Cartier. 
New  England,  wher 
French  mission 

Pere  Marquette  HENRY  CABOT  LODGE 

of   France  from  the  SOim      Senator  from  Massachusetts 

HENRY  CABOT  I/)DGE,  born  in  Boston,  1850,  in  his  progressive  and  thorough  course 
of  study  reached  graduation  from  Harvard  College  in  1871  and  Harvard  Law  School  in 
1875,  received  degree  I«I«.  B.  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Suffolk,  1876.  The  same 
year  he  received  degree  of  Ph.  D.  from  Harvard  for  his  thesis  on  the  "  Iyand  law  of  the 
Anglo-Saxons.1'  Having  adopted  literature  as  his  chosen  profession,  since  1877  he  has 
contributed  many  original  works  of  classic  merit,  and  edited  volumes  of  great  value 
and  pronounced  skill,  to  the  realm  of  American  letters.  He  is  a  member  of  many 
societies  having  for  their  object  research  and  promotion  of  history,  arts,  science, 
genealogy,  and  antiquities,  and  is  also  a  doctor  of  law  by  patent  of  three  universities. 
In  1900,  he  was  permanent  chairman  of  the  convention  at  Philadelphia  which  nomi 
nated  William  McKinley  and  Theodore  Roosevelt.  In  the  Republican  national  conven 
tion  of  1904  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  resolutions.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Alaskan  Boundary  Commission,  by  appointment  of  President  Roosevelt.  lu  legislative 
affairs  he  served  two  terms  in  the  lower  branch  of  the  Massachusetts  legislature,  four 
terms — Fiftieth  to  Fifty-third  sessions — in  the  lower  branch  of  Congress,  and  entered  the 
United  States  Senate  in  1893,  again  by  reelection  in  1899,  and  again  in  1905.  Mr.  Lodge 
is  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  Philippines,  member  of  the  committees  on  Foreign 
Relations,  Immigration,  aud  others  of  leading  importance. 

only  with  the  fall  of  the 

reated  in 

fare  which  had  - 

The  need  of  tlu  : 

• 

. 
tr   il 


3OQO 
ittttuft 


Unveiling  of  the  Statue  97 

religion.  It  is  a  dark  and  splendid  story,  well-nigh  forgotten  now,  which 
comes  up  to  us  out  of  that  dim  past,  touched  with  the  glory  of  the  Admiral 
of  France.  There  in  the  old  books  we  can  read  of  Ribault  and  Laudon- 
niere  and  their  comrades,  of  their  daring  and  intelligence,  and  of  the 
settlements  they  founded.  Then  come  Menendez  and  his  Spaniards,  the 
surprise  and  slaughter  of  the  French,  massacred  on  account  of  their  reli 
gion,  and  then  a  few  years  later  De  Gourgues  swoops  down  upon  the 
Spanish  forts,  and  the  Spaniards  in  turn  drench  the  sands  with  their 
blood  and  swing  on  gibbets  to  remind  all  men  of  the  passing  of  the 
avenger.  Thus  driven  from  the  south  the  French  still  held  their  grip  on 
the  heritage  of  Cartier.  Champlain  gave  his  name  to  the  great  lake  of 
New  England,  where  rival  nations  were  one  day  to  fight  for  dominion. 
French  missionaries  died  for  their  faith  among  the  red  men  of  New  York. 
Pere  Marquette  explored  the  West,  and  the  gallant  La  Salle  bore  the  lilies 
of  France  from  the  source  to  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi.  The  French 
names  mark  the  passing  of  the  French  discoveries  from  Montreal  to  St. 
Louis  and  from  St.  Louis  to  New  Orleans. 

And  while  the  "Roi  Soleil"  was  raising  his  frowning  fortress  on  the 
banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  dispatching  Auvergnats  and  Normans  and 
Bretons  to  settle  Canada,  and  urging  his  explorers  across  the  continent, 
some  others  of  his  best  subjects,  driven  forth  into  the  world  by  revoked 
edicts  and  certain  things  called  "  dragon nades,"  were  bringing  their  wit 
and  quick  intelligence  to  strengthen  and  upbuild  the  English  colonies, 
which  were  growing  up  not  at  all  in  the  orderly  way  dear  to  the  heart 
of  a  grand  monarch,  but  in  a  rude,  vigorous,  scrambling,  independent 
fashion,  after  the  manner  of  races  who  found  nations  and  establish  states. 

Presently  it  appeared  that  there  was  not  room  enough  even  in  the  vast 
wilderness  of  North  America  for  the  rival  powers  of  France  and  England. 
A  few  shots  fired  by  sundry  Virginians  under  the  command  ,of  George 
Washington,  whose  name  springing  forth  suddenly  from  the  backwoods 
was  then  first  heard  on  two  continents,  began  a  stubborn  war  which  ended 
only  with  the  fall  of  the  French  power  and  the  triumph  of  England  and 
the  English  colonies. 

Thus  was  a  new  situation  created  in  North  America.  Instead  of  two 
rival  powers  struggling  for  mastery,  one  reigned  supreme  from  the  St. 
Lawrence  to  Florida.  The  danger  from  the  north,  dark  with  Indian  war 
fare  which  had  so  long  threatened  the  Atlantic  colonies,  had  passed  away. 
The  need  of  the  strong  support  of  the  mother  country  against  the  power 
of  France  had  gone  and  the  position  of  the  colonies  in  their  relations  with 
England  was  enormously  strengthened.  A  blundering  ministry,  a  few 
meddlesome  and  oppressive  acts  on  the  part  of  Parliament,  a  departure 
from  Wai  pole's  wise  maxim  about  America,  "quieta  non  movere,"  and 
mischief  would  be  afoot.  It  all  came  sooner  than  any  one  dreamed.  The 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 7 


98  Unveiling  of  the  Statue 

rejoicing  at  the  close  of  the  victorious  war  had  hardly  ended,  the  con 
gratulations  to  the  "Great  Commoner"  had  hardly  ceased,  the  statue  of 
George  III  was  scarcely  firm  on  its  pedestal,  when  the  Americans  rose  in 
wrath  against  the  stamp  act;  England  gave  way  sufficiently  to  make  the 
colonies  realize  their  power  and  yet  not  so  completely  as  to  extinguish 
suspicion  and  hostility.  There  was  a  lull,  a  period  of  smiling  deceptive 
calm,  and  then  the  storm  broke  again,  but  this  time  there  was  not  wisdom 
enough  left  in  London  to  allay  it.  The  little  minds  which  Burke  thought 
so  ill-suited  to  a  great  empire  were  in  full  control,  and  the  Empire  began 
in  consequence  to  show  an  ominous  and  ever-widening  rent. 

Again  France  appears  upon  the  continent,  where  for  so  many  years  she 
had  played  such  a  great  part  and  had  fought  so  bravely  and  so  unavail- 
ingly  for  dominion.  The  chance  had  come  to  wreak  an  ample  vengeance 
on  the  power  which  had  driven  her  from  Canada.  France  would  have 
been  more  or  less  than  human  if  she  had  not  grasped  the  opportunity  at 
once  so  satisfying  to  wounded  pride  and  so  promising  politically.  Cov 
ertly  at  first  she  aided  the  English  colonies,  and  then  after  the  surrender 
of  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga  the  treaty  of  alliance  was  signed  and  France 
entered  into  the  war  with  Great  Britain.  The  French  Government  aided 
us  with  money  and  with  men,  by  land  and  by  sea,  but  the  decisive  force 
was  that  which  landed  at  Newport  in  the  long  July  days  of  1780. 

To  that  brave,  well-officered,  highly  disciplined  army  we  raise  a  monu 
ment  to-day,  by  placing  here  in  the  nation's  Capital  the  statue  of  its 
commander.  For  their  service  and  for  his  own  we  owe  him  a  debt  of  grati 
tude,  for  which  we  should  here  make  lasting  acknowledgment,  one  which 
will  stand  unchanged  beneath  the  sunshine  and  the  rain  long  after  the 
words  we  speak  shall  have  been  forgotten. 

This  statue  is  the  counterfeit  presentment  of  the  gallant  figure  of  a 
gallant  gentleman.  Born  in  1725,  of  noble  family,  a  native  of  Vendome, 
JKAN  BAPTISTS  DONATIEN  DE  VIMEUR,  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  had 
just  passed  his  fifty-fifth  birthday  when  he  landed  at  Newport.  His 
career  had  been  long  and  distinguished.  His  honors  and  his  rank  in  the 
army  had  been  won  in  the  field,  not  in  the  antechambers  of  Versailles. 
In  an  age  when  the  greatest  nobleman  of  France  thought  it  no  shame  to 
seek  advancement  from  royal  mistresses,  by  whose  whims  ministers  rose 
and  fell  and  the  policies  of  state  were  decided,  ROCHAMBEAU  in  time  of 
peace  turned  from  the  court  to  his  regiment  and  his  estates.  He  had 
shared  in  all  the  campaigns  of  France  from  the  time  when  his  elder 
brother's  death  had  taken  him  from  the  church,  in  which  he  was  about 
to  become  a  priest,  and  placed  him  in  the  army.  At  the  siege  of  Namur 
he  earned  the  rank  of  colonel  by  the  surprise  of  an  outpost,  which  led  to 
the  surrender  of  the  town.  He  was  twice  wounded  a£  the  head  of  his 
regiment  at  the  battle  of  Laufeld.  He  captured  the  enemy's  magazines  at 
the  siege  of  Maestricht,  and  won  the  cross  of  St.  Louis  leading  the  assault 


Unveiling  of  the  Statue  99 

upon  the  forts  of  Minorca.  He  fought  the  Prince  Ferdinand  of  Brunswick 
and  captured  the  fortress  of  Regenstein  in  1757.  At  Crefeld  he  sustained 
for  a  long  time  the  attack  of  the  Prussian  army.  He  took  a  leading  part 
in  the  battle  of  Minden,  and  was  again  wounded  at  Klostercamp.  After 
the  peace,  ROCHAMBEAU  was  often  consulted  by  ministers,  but  never 
would  take  office.  At  last,  in  March,  1780,  he  was  made  lieutenant- 
general  and  sent  with  the  French  army  to  America. 

He  reached  the  United  States  at  a  dark  hour  for  the  American  cause. 
The  first  fervor  of  resistance  had  cooled,  the  active  fighting  had  subsided 
in  the  north,  Congress  had  grown  feeble  and  inert,  government  and  finance 
both  dragged  heavily,  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  Revolution,  so  successful  in 
the  field,  would  founder  upon  the  rocks  of  political  and  executive  inca 
pacity.  Washington  and  the  army  in  the  midst  of  almost  unparalleled  dif 
ficulties  alone  kept  the  cause  alive.  The  coming  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  his 
men  was  a  great  good  fortune,  and  yet  its  first  result  was  to  induce  further 
relaxation  of  effort  on  the  part  of  Congress.  Washington,  realizing  all  the 
event  meant,  opened  correspondence  at  once  with  ROCHAMBEAU,  but  it 
was  not  until  September  that  he  was  able  to  meet  the  French  commander 
in  person  at  Hartford.  It  was  a  great  relief  to  the  heavily  burdened  gen 
eral  to  meet  such  a  man  as  ROCHAMBEAU,  and  yet,  even  then,  as  he  turned 
back  with  lightened  heart  and  lifted  hopes,  the  news  of  Arnold's  treason 
smote  him  on  his  arrival  at  West  Point.  So  the  summer  had  gone  and 
nothing  had  been  done.  Then  ROCHAMBEAU  was  unwilling  to  move  with 
out  further  reenforcements,  and  Washington  was  struggling  desperately  to 
wring  from  a  hesitating  Congress  and  from  reluctant  States  the  men, 
money,  and  supplies  absolutely  essential  if  the  great  opportunity  which 
had  now  come  was  not  to  pass  away  unused.  So  the  winter  wore  on  and 
spring  came,  and  in  May  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU  were  again 
in  consultation,  Washington  determined  to  strike  a  fatal  blow  some 
where.  He  considered  Florida  and  the  scheme  of  taking  the  British, 
under  Rawdon,  in  the  rear;  he  thought  of  Virginia,  where  Cornwallis, 
forced  northward  by  Greene's  stratagem,  was  established  with  his  army; 
long  and  earnestly  he  looked  at  New  York,  the  chief  seat  of  British  power. 
ROCHAMBEAU  showed  his  military  intelligence  by  leaning  strongly  to 
Virginia.  But  the  one  vital  condition  was  still  lacking.  Washington 
knew  that  he  must  command  the  sea,  if  only  for  a  month,  at  the  point 
where  he  was  to  deliver  the  decisive  blow.  So  the  days  slipped  by,  the 
summer  waned,  and  then  of  a  sudden  the  great  condition  sprang  into  life. 

De  Grasse,  to  whom  we  owe  a  debt  as  great  as  to  ROCHAMBEAU,  appeared 
in  the  Chesapeake  with  his  fleet.  No  longer  was  there  room  for  doubt. 
Cornwallis,  in  Virginia,  was  clearly  now  the  quarry  for  the  allied  forces. 

Time  forbids  me  to  tell  the  brilliant  story  of  that  campaign;  of  the 
manner  in  which  De  Barras  was  induced  to  bring  his  squadron  from  the 
north;  of  the  adroitness  with  which  Clinton  was  deceived  in  New  York; 


ioo  Unveiling  of  the  Statue 

of  the  skill  and  rapidity  with  which  the  French  and  American  armies  were 
hurried  from  New  York  to  the  Chesapeake,  and  thence  to  Yorktown.  The 
great,  the  golden  moment  so  longed  for  by  Washington,  when  he  could 
unite  both  land  and  sea  power,  had  at  last  arrived.  De  Grasse  was  master 
of  the  bay. 

The  English  fleet  was  scattered  and  divided.  Clinton  slumbered  in  New 
York,  and  Cornwallis,  with  some  9,000  men,  was  in  Yorktown  with  the 
united  French  and  American  armies  drawn  close  about  him.  Fast  fol 
lowed  the  siege,  nearer  came  the  inclosing  lines.  Lauzun'  dashed  back 
Tarleton's  cavalry  at  the  very  beginning  and  every  British  sortie  from  that 
moment  was  repulsed.  Day  by  day  the  parallels  were  pushed  forward, 
and  at  last  Washington  declared  the  advanced  British  redoubts  practicable 
for  assault.  The  French,  under  Viomenil,  the  grenadiers  of  Gatinois,  the 
regiment  of  Auvergne  and  Deux-Ponts  stormed  one,  and  here  the  most 
famous  of  the  French  regiments  recovered  from  their  king  the  proud 
motto  of  "Auvergne  sans  tache."  The  other  redoubt  was  assigned  to  the 
Americans  under  Lafayette,  led  by  Alexander  Hamilton  and  John  Laurens. 
Both  assaults,  brilliantly  delivered,  were  successful  and  the  American  lines 
included  the  ground  which  had  been  so  gallantly  won.  A  desperate  sortie 
under  Colonel  Graham  completely  repulsed  a  vain  attempt  to  escape  by 
water  and  then  all  was  over. 

On  the  i8th  of  October  Cornwallis  surrendered,  and  on  the  following 
day  the  British  filed  out  and  laid  down  their  arms,  passing  between  the 
ordered  lines  of  the  French,  drawn  up  under  the  Lilies,  and  the  ranks  of 
the  Americans  standing  beneath  the  thirteen  stars  fixed  on  that  day  in  the 
firmament  of  nations.  The  American  Revolution  had  been  fought  out  and 
the  new  people  had  won. 

Through  all  these  events,  through  all  the  months  of  weary  waiting, 
through  the  weeks  of  rapid  march  and  the  hurrying  days  of  siege  and  battle 
there  shine  out  very  brightly  the  fine  qualities  of  the  French  general. 
Nothing  is  more  difficult  than  the  management  in  war  of  allied  forces. 
Here  there  was  never  a  jar.  ROCHAMBEAU  was  large  minded  enough  to 
understand  the  greatness  of  Washington,  to  realize  the  height  of  mind  and 
the  power  of  character  which  invested  the  American  leader  with  a  dignity 
beyond  aught  that  royal  birth  or  kingly  title  could  confer.  No  small 
jealousies  marred  their  intercourse.  They  wrought  together  for  a  common 
cause,  and  the  long  experience,  the  thorough  training,  the  keen  military 
intelligence,  the  wisdom  and  honest  purpose  of  ROCHAMBEAU  were  all 
freely  given  to  the  Americans  and  their  commander.  Honor  and  gratitude 
then  to  ROCHAMBEAU  for  what  he  did  for  us,  and  gratitude  and  honor 
likewise  to  De  Grasse  and  De  Barras  for  the  sea  power  with  which  they 
upheld  and  sustained  both  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU. 

But  there  is  something  more  in  the  story  than  this,  something  of  deeper 
meaning  than  the  plans  of  statesmen  to  humble  a  successful  foe,  and  take 
a  tardy  revenge  for  past  defeats;  something  more  profound  than  the  grasp- 


Unveiling  of  the  Statue  101 

ing  of  a  young  people  at  a  friendly  hand  to  draw  them  forth  from  the 
stormy  waters  of  a  desperate  war  for  liberty.  Look  again  on  those  men 
gathered  under  the  white  flag  in  the  mellow  October  sunlight.  The  pride 
of  victory  is  in  their  hearts,  for  they  have  done  well  for  France;  they  have 
cruelly  avenged  the  loss  of  Canada.  The  world  smiles  upon  them  as  the 
British  pass  by  and  pile  their  arms.  Happily  for  them  they  can  not  read 
the  future.  They  do  not  even  grasp  the  meaning  of  the  war  they  have 
helped  to  bring  to  an  end.  They  can  not  interpret — 

Time's  dark  events, 

Charging  like  ceaseless  clouds  across  the  sky. 

But  their  future  is  our  past,  and  we  know  their  destinies.  There  is 
ROCHAMBEAU  himself,  chief  figure  .among  the  French.  He  will  go  home 
to  added  honors,  he  will  take  part  presently  in  the  movement  for  reform 
and  will  receive  from  a  new  Government  a  marshal's  baton.  Then  a  tor 
rent  of  blood  flows.  Others  in  his  rank  will  fly  across  the  frontier,  but  he 
is  made  of  sterner  stuff.  He  will  retire  to  his  estates,  be  dragged  to  prison, 
will  be  barely  saved  from  the  guillotine  by  the  ninth  Thermidor  and  will 
live  on  to  receive  the  compliments  of  the  greatest  soldier  of  modern  times 
and  will  die  full  of  years  and  honors. 

There  is  Lafayette.  For  him  an  Austrian  prison  is  waiting.  There  is 
Viomenil,  who  commanded  the  force  which  took  the  redoubt.  He  will  die 
in  hiding,  wounded  in  defense  of  his  king's  palace  against  the  onset  of  a 
maddened  people  on  the  loth  of  August. 

There  is  Damas,  wounded  at  the  Yorktown  redoubt.  In  a  few  years  he 
will  be  a  fugitive  and  an  exile,  fighting  against  France.  There  is  Lameth, 
wounded  also  at  the  redoubt.  For  him,  too,  the  future  holds  a  prison  and 
a  long  exile.  There  is  Lauzun,  type  of  the  ancient  regime,  the  victor  over 
Tarleton's  Horse,  the  bearer  of  the  brave  news  to  Versailles;  he,  too,  will 
stay  by  France,  and  his  end  will  be  the  guillotine.  The  prophet  who 
should  have  foretold  such  fates  as  these  for  that  gallant  company  would 
have  been  laughed  to  scorn.  From  no  men  did  disaster  seem  more  distant 
than  from  those  brave  gentlemen  of  France  on  that  October  morning,  and 
yet  the  future  held  for  them  exile,  prison,  and  the  guillotine. 

And  it  was  all  inevitable,  for  the  American  Revolution  not  only  made  a 
new  nation,  but  it  was  the  beginning  of  the  world-wide  movement  at  once 
mighty  and  relentless.  There  was  something  stronger  than  government 
or  ministers,  than  kings  or  politics,  which  brought  the  French  to  America. 

Across  the  square  there  stands  the  statue  of  Lafayette.  He  brought  to 
America  no  army,  like  ROCHAMBEAU;  no  fleet,  like  De  Grasse.  He  came 
by  no  command  of  his  king.  Yet  has  he  always  been  nearer  to  the  hearts 
of  Americans  than  any  man  not  of  their  own  people.  The  reason  is 
not  far  to  seek.  He  came  of  his  own  accord  and  brought  with  him  the 
sympathy  of  France.  He  represented  the  new  spirit  of  a  new  time,  the 
aspirations,  the  hopes,  the  visions  which  Had  come  out  of  the  intellectual 


IO2  Unveiling  of  the  Statue 

revolution  wrought  by  Voltaire,  Rousseau,  and  the  Bncyclopedistes. 
Purposes  of  state,  calculations  of  chances,  selfish  desires  might  guide  the 
French  Government,  but  Lafayette  was  the  living  embodiment  of  the 
sympathy  of  the  French  people  for  the  cause  of  the  United  States.  He 
came  because  he  loved  that  cause  and  had  faith  in  it,  and  so  the  American 
people  gave  faith  and  love  to  him.  And  this  impalpable  spirit  of  the  time 
stirring  strongly  but  blindly  in  France  was  even  then  more  powerful  than 
inonarchs  or  cabinets  or  coalitions.  In  America  it  passed  for  the  first  time 
from  the  world  of  speculation  to  the  world  of  action.  There  in  the  new 
country,  on  the  edge  of  the  yet  unconquered  continent,  theory  became 
practice  and  doctrines  lived  as  facts.  There  a  people  had  risen  up  declar 
ing  that  they  were  weary  of  kings,  had  fought  their  own  battle  for  their 
own  land  and  won.  The  democratic  movement  had  begun. 

From  America  it  passed  across  the  sea,  saying  to  all  men  that  what  had 
been  done  in  the  new  land  could  be  done  likewise  in  the  old. 

The  army  of  ROCHAMBEAU,  flushed  with  victory,  bore  back  the  message 
with  them  and  it  fell  upon  listening  ears.  France  had  helped  us  to  liberty 
and  independence  and  we  had  shown  her  how  both  were  won.  The  force 
which  we  had  summoned  they,  too,  evoked,  and  banded  Europe,  blind  to 
the  deeper  meanings  of  the  American  war,  went  to  pieces  in  dull  surprise 
before  the  onset  of  a  people  armed,  the  makers  of  a  Revolution  in  which 
thrones  tottered,  privilege  and  feudalism  went  down  to  ruin  and  the 
ancient  boundaries  of  kings  faded  from  the  map.  The  Lilies  which  had 
floated  so  triumphantly  in  the  Virginian  air  gave  way  to  the  American 
colors,  which  French  armies  carried  in  triumph  from  Paris  to  Moscow  and 
from  the  Baltic  to  the  Nile,  wiping  out  forever  the  petty  tyrannies  which 
sold  men  to  fight  in  quarrels  not  their  own  and  clearing  the  ground  for 
the  larger  liberty  and  the  united  nations  of  to-day.  The  United  States, 
with  independence  achieved,  passed  out  of  the  network  of  European 
politics  in  which  for  a  century  and  a  half  the  American  colonies  had  been 
entangled,  but  the  influence  and  example  of  the  American  Revolution 
were  felt  throughout  the  civilization  of  the  West. 

We  unveil  this  statue  in  honor  of  a  brave  soldier  who  fought  by  the  side 
of  Washington.  We  place  it  here  to  keep  his  memory  fresh  in  remem 
brance  and  as  a  monument  of  our  gratitude  to  France.  But  let  us  not 
forget  that  we  also  commemorate  here  the  men  who  first  led  in  arms  the 
democratic  movement,  which  during  a  century  of  conflict  has  advanced 
the  cause  of  freedom  and  popular  government  throughout  the  world  of 
western  civilization. 

At  the  close  of  Senator  Lodge's  oration  the  French  band 
rendered  the  ' '  Star  Spangled  Banner. ' ' 

The  enthusiam  of  the  audience  seemed  to  reach  a  culmina 
tion  when  General  Brugere,  chief  of  the  official  Mission, 


GENERAL  BRUGERE 
France 


t  to  mak 
r  bowir  n  of  the 

Torts  to  beR: 

outbv  en  repeated  befor  .French 

able  to  .140  on  with  his  remarks. 

Gen  '-ere  spoke  in  French,  saying: 

•    K     J<K     Pi-  !^1C    HUX 

GENERAL  HENRI-JOSEPH  BRUGERE 

Generalissimo  of  the  Army  of  France,  officer  of  the  legion  of  Honor 

Born  in  1841  at  Uzerche  (Correze);  entered  1'ivcole  Polytechnique  October,  1861; 
joined  the  Artillery;  Chevalier  of  the  Region  of  Honor,  December,  1867,  for  good  con 
duct  during  the  cholera  in  Algiers.  In  the  Franco-Prussian  war  served  as  captain  in 
the  Army  of  the  Rhine  in  the  battles  of  Borny,  Rezonville,  Gravelotte,  and  Servigny. 
Taken  prisoner  at  Metz  October  28,  1870 ;  refused  to  surrender  and  escaped  November 
2.  Repaired  to  Tours  and  offered  his  services  to  the  government  of  the  national 
defense.  Served  gallantly  in  the  Army  of  the  I,oire,  capturing  a  Prussian  gun  at 
Juvanville,  for  which  he  was  made  chief  of  squadron  December,  1870.  For  bravery 
in  action  was  awarded  the  cross  of  officer  of  the  Region  of  Honor.  Serving  in  the 
Army  of  the  East  on  the  Swiss  frontier,  he  escaped  capture,  returning  to  Bordeaux. 
Reported  for  service  ;  sent  to  Algiers;  made  several  campaigns,  1871-72,  under  General 
Lallemand.  Returning  to  France  and  serving  with  his  regiment,  in  February,  1879, 
was  assigned  to  duty  as  personal  aid  to  the  President  of  the  Republic ;  lieutenant- 
colonel  October  25,  1879.  In  April,  1881,  left  for  Tunis  in  command  of  the  artillery  of 
the  brigade  under  General  Jyogerot ;  colonel  December  30,  1881.  Same  month  received 
,  ,a  brevet  on  the  staff  ;  July,  1882,  assigned  to  command  Twelfth  Regiment  of  Artillery 
at  Vincennes ;  1886,  on  the  order  of  the  President  of  the  Republic,  was  assigned  to  duty 
at  the  Elyse'e;  1887,  general  of  brigade;  chief  of  the  military  household  of  M.  Caruot 
and  secretary-general  to  the  President  until  1892  ;  general  of  division  1890;  commander 
of  Corps  d'Armee  1898;  military  governor  of  Paris  1899;  assigned  to  the  functions  of 
generalissimo  1900 ;  directed  the  movements  of  the  French  army  in  1900,  1901,  1902,  1904, 
and  1905  while  attached  to  the  Presidency ;  1879-1882  had  charge  of  editing  and  pub- 
lishingthe  "  Memorial  desofficiers  d'Artillerie,"  in  22  volumes.  His  studieson  picrates 
during  fifteen  years -were  a  valuable  contribution  to  the  adoption  of  the  new  explosives 
in  use  in  the  French  artillery,  for  which  he  was  highly  commended  by  Generals  Cissy 
(1873),  Barail  (1874),  Billot  (1882),  Thibaudin  (1883). 

• 

sacr  > 

Je  ne  vt-  ">ra* 

qui  a  et£  apporu  Par  les  troul 

ROCHAMI: 


;id8i  . 
-noo 
ni  n 


.!•     11  ir 
-^19VB7<  I 

yrfj  ni   gnr  .' 


vjub  e:t 

.  M  ^ 


es  5s 
bur,  - 


_  i  .l 


BRUGERE 


Unveiling  of  the  Statue  103 

advanced  to  the  front  to  make  the  closing  address  of  the  oc 
casion.  After  bowing  his  recognition  of  the  plaudits  of  the 
assemblage,  several  efforts  to  begin  were  interrupted  by  new 
outbursts,  often  repeated  before  the  veteran  French  soldier  was 
able  to  go  on  with  his  remarks. 

General  Brugere  spoke  in  French,  saying: 

MONSIEUR  LE  PRESIDENT  DES  ETATS-UNIS,  MESSIEURS:  Fidele  aux 
sentiments  de  reconnaissance  qu'elle  a  voile's  a  tous  ceux  qui  ont  contri- 
bue  a  son  independance,  la  nation  americaine  a  de"ja  honore  par  d'impe- 
rissables  monuments,  edge's  tant  en  Ame'rique  qu'a  Paris,  la  m^moire  de 
son  fondateur  et  de  ceux  qui  ont  eu  le  grand  honneur  de  collaborer  a  son 
ceuvre.  Elle  a  aussi  montre  qu'elle  n'etablit  aucune  distinction  entre  ses 
propres  enfants  qui  ont  combattu  pour  son  independance  et  les  soldats 
fran£ais  qui,  soit  spontanement,  soit  par  ordre,  sont  venus  dans  des  temps 
difficiles  lui  apporter,  sans  compter,  le  concours  de  leur  devouement  et  de 
leur  valeur  militaire. 

II  y  a  deux  ans  a  peine,  le  4  juillet  1900,  j'assistais,  a  Paris,  a  1'inaugu- 
ration  des  statues  de  Washington  et  de  Lafayette,  dues,  la  premiere  aux 
femmes  americaines,  la  seconde  aux  enfants  des  e"coles  des  Etats-Unis,  et 
je  n'ai  pas  oublie  les  te"moignages  re*ciproques  de  fidele  et  reconnaissant 
souvenir  auxquels  ont  donne  lieu  ces  deux  belles  et  touchantes  ce're'monies. 

Aujourd'hui,  a  Washington,  je  retrouve  ces  memes  sentiments  dans 
cette  fete  patriotique  organised  en  1' honneur  de  ROCHAMBEAU  et  de  ses 
vaillants  soldats.  Aussi,  ma  premiere  pense"e  est-elle  de  remercier,  »au 
nom  de  la  mission  franfaise,  le  Gouvernement  des  Etats-Unis  d'avoir 
convie*  la  France  a  cette  manifestation  grandiose  qui  ne  peut  que  resserrer 
les  liens,  plus  que  seculaires,  qui  unissent  les  deux  peuples. 

Nous  sommes  tous  tres  fiers  et  tres  heureux  d'avoir  e"te"  de*signe*s  pour 
representer  la  France  dans  cette  circonstance  solennelle,  d'autant  plus 
que  ce  monument  n'a  pas  seulement  pour  but  de  rendre  hommage  au 
comte  de  ROCHAMBEAU,  mais  comme  le  disait  en  1881  le  President  de  la 
Republique  francaise  a  1' occasion  de  1' inauguration  de  la  statue  de 
Lafayette,  de  "perpe*tuer  le  souvenir  d'une  union  que  de  nobles  et  labo- 
rieuses  aspirations  ont  fait  naitre  et  que  nos  institutions,  communes 
aujourd'hui,  doivent  resserrer  et  deVelopper  pour  le  bien  des  deux  pays." 

Lorsqu'au  moment  de  la  guerre  de  I'lnd^pendance  des  Etats-Unis  la 
France  est  intervenue,  il  s'agissait  du  droit  et  de  laliberte  dont  la  defense 
a  tou jours  etc"  conside"ree  par  elle  comme  une  cause  juste  et  par  suite 
sacree. 

Je  ne  veux  certes  pas  diminuer  la  valeur  de  1'appui  materiel  et  moral 
qui  a  ete  apporte  a  cette  e*poque  a  1'arm^e  americaine  par  les  troupes  de 
ROCHAMBEAU  et  celles  du  comte  de  Grasse,  dont  la  tenue  et  la  discipline 
ont  e"te"  exemplaires  pendant  toute  la  campagne;  mais  ces  troupes  n'e*taient 


IO4  Unveiling  of  the  Statue 

que  des  auxiliaires;  elles  etaient  sous  les  ordres  de  Washington,  et  c'est 
a  lui  seul  que  revient  1'honneur  d' avoir  rendu  la  liberte  a  son  pays. 

Toutefois,  je  ne  sais  ce  que  Ton  doit  le  plus  admirer,  ou  du  comte  de 
ROCHAMBEAU,  lieutenant-general  des  armies  de  France,  1'un  des  meil- 
leurs  tacticiens  qu'ait  forme's  la  guerre  de  Sept-Ans,  s'effacant  toujours 
devant  le  ge"ne*ral  americain,  ou  de  1'illustre  Washington,  qui  ne  com- 
mande  jamais  le  general  fran£ais  qu'avec  la  plus  grande  deference  et  qui 
semble  lui  soumettre  des  propositions  lorsqu'il  lui  donne  des  ordres. 

Quelle  Emotion  n'e"prouve-t-on  pas  en  lisant  les  lignes  suivantes,  qu'a- 
dressait  ROCHAMBEAU  a  Washington  le  jour  de  son  arrived  en  Ame'rique: 
"Les  ordres  du  Roi,  mon  maitre,  m'amenent  aux  ordres  de  votre  Excel 
lence.  J'y  arrive  avec  toute  la  soumission,  tout  le  zele  et  toute  la  ve*ne"ra- 
tion  que  j'ai  pour  votre  personne  et  pour  les  talents  distingues  que  vous 
montrez  a  soutenir  une  guerre  a  jamais  memorable." 

Et  plus  tard,  lorsque  la  tache  accomplie,  ROCHAMBEAU  remercie  le  Pre*- 
sident  du  Congres  des  t<!moignages  de  satisfaction  qui  lui  sont  adresse"s,  il 
rend  encore  hommage  au  commandant  en  chef  des  forces  alliees  en  e"cri- 
vant:  "Si  j'ai  e"te"  assez  heureux  pour  meYiter  1'approbation  de  votre 
Excellence  et  celle  du  Congres,  ce  ne  peut  etre  que  dans  mon  activite*  a 
suivre  les  plans  du  general  Washington." 

De  son  cote",  le  comte  de  Grasse  e"crit  a  ROCHAMBEAU,  en  parlant  de 
Washington:  "  Je  serais  fach^  d'etre  prive*  de  recevoir  des  lettres  de  ce 
ge*ne"ral.  Il  e"crit  aussi  bien  qu'il  fait  la  guerre.  Ah!  quel  homme." 

Un  pareil  chef,  entoure"  de  tels  deVouements,  ne  pouvait  etre  que  vain- 
queur,  et  il  le  fut. 

I^a  guerre  terminee,  la  nation  naissante  avait  bien  conquis  1'indepen- 
dance,  mais  il  lui  fallait  assurer  son  de* veloppement  e"conomique  et  sociale. 

Par  un  bonheur  inespe*re,  elle  trouvait,  dans  le  g£nie  militaire  qui  avait 
lib^re"  son  territoire,  le  sage  administrates  qui  devait  poser  les  bases 
d'une  paix  feconde  et  pre*parer  1'essor  le  plus  merveilleux  qu'une  nation 
puisse  rever. 

Comment  ne  pas  citer,  pour  terrhiner,  le  passage  suivant  d'une  lettre  de 
Washington,  e*crite  en  1786.  Ce  passage  fait  autant  d'honneur  au  ge"ne"- 
ral  am^ricain  qui  1'a  ecrite,  qu'aux  generaux  fran9ais  auxquels  il  s'adres- 
sait  :  "  lya  fidelite",  1'honneur  et  la  bravoure  de  vos  troupes,  le  patriotisme 
e*claire  et  les  sentiments  de  sympathie  delicats  qui  animaient  un  si  grand 
nombre  de  vos  compatriotes  avec  lesquels  je  puis  me  vanter  d'etre  inti- 
mement  lie",  et  par-dessus  tout  le  vif  inteYet  que  votre  illustre  monarque 
et  ses  fideles  sujets  ont  pris  au  succes  des  armes  ame"ricaines  et  a  1'affer- 
missement  de  notre  independance,  m'ont  rendu  chere  votre  nation  et  ont 
forme  des  liens  d' attach ement  et  laisse  des  impressions  que  ni  le  temps, 
ni  les  e"ve"nements  ne  pourront  de*truire  ..." 

Telle  e"tait,  messieurs,  une  des  dernieres  pens^es  du  grand  Washington. 
Elle  re"pond  trop  a  nos  sentiments  pour  qu'apres  la  reception  amicale  et 


Unveiling  of  the  Statue  105 

chaleureuse  faite  a  la  mission  franchise,  apres  les  ovations  enthousiastes 
dont  elle  est  1'objet,  apres  les  discours  eloquents  et  patriotiques  que  nous 
venons  d'entendre;  enfin,  apres  le^ge'ne'reux  tdmoignage  de  fraternelle 
solidarite  donne"  a  nos  malheureux  compatriotes  de  la  Martinique  par  le 
Gouvernement  et  le  peuple  ame'ricains,  je  n'hesite  p'as  a  m'e'crier,  comme 
ROCHAMBEAU  en  1781:  "  Entre  vous  et  nous,  a  la  vie,  a  la  mort !" 

GENERAI,    BRUGERE'S   ADDRESS 
[Translation] 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen :  True  to  the  feelings  of  gratitude 
which  the  American  nation  has  displayed  toward  those  who  fought  for  its 
independence,  the  United  States  has  honored  by  imperishable  monuments, 
erected  here  and  in  France,  the  memory  of  its  liberator  and  those  who 
had  the  great  honor  of  fighting  by  his  side.  This  proves  that  you  make 
no  distinction  between  your  sons  wrho  fought  for  their  own  independence 
and  the  French  soldiers  who  came  of  their  own  free  will  or  by  order  of 
the  King  and  brought  you  in  that  critical  period  the  devoted  aid  of  their 
military  experience.  Just  two  years  ago,  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  1900,  I 
was  present  in  Paris  at  the  unveiling  of  the  monuments  erected  to  the 
memory  of  Washington  and  Lafayette.  One  of  these  was  erected  by  the 
women  and  the  other  by  the  children  of  the  United  States.  I  shall  never 
forget  what  true  and  grateful  remembrances  of  the  past  were  brought 
before  us  by  those  two  impressive  ceremonies.  To-day  in  Washington 
these  same  remembrances  are  revived  in  this  patriotic  ceremony  in  honor 
of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  his  brave  soldiers. 

My  most  agreeable  duty  is  to  thank  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
on  behalf  of  the  French  Mission  for  having  invited  the  French  nation  to 
participate  in  these  imposing  exercises,  which  can  but  strengthen  the 
bonds  of  friendship  uniting  the  two  nations.  We  are  all  very  proud  of 
having  been  chosen  to  represent  France  on  this  memorable  occasion. 
Especially  as  the  monument  which  stands  before  us  is  not  only  designed 
to  honor  Count  ROCHAMBEAU,  but,  as  the  President  of  the  French  Repub 
lic  said  in  1881,  on  the  occasion  of  the  unveiling  of  the  monument  of 
Lafayette:  "It  will  commemorate  the  ancient  bond  of  friendship  existing 
between  our  nations,  a  bond  which  now,  under  similar  political  institu 
tions,  is  destined  to  grow  stronger." 

When  France  took  an  active  part  in  the  war  of  Independence,  right 
and  liberty  were  at  stake;  the  cause  was  just  and  sacred.  I  do  not  wish 
to  underrate  the  value  of  the  material  and  moral  aid  which  the  troops  under 
ROCHAMBEAU  and  De  Grasse  brought  to  the  American  Army.  Their 
discipline  and  morale  were  excellent. 

These  troops  were  but  auxiliaries  under  the  orders  of  Washington,  and 
to  him  alone  is  due  the  honor  of  having  won  liberty  for  America.  I  do  not 


106  Unveiling  of  the  Statue 

really  know  which  to  admire  more — Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  lieutenant- 
general  of  the  French  army,  one  of  the  best  tacticians  of  the  ' '  Seven 
Years'  War,"  who  placed  himself  without  hesitation  under  the  orders  of 
the  American  general,  or  George  Washington,  always  considerate  of  the 
French  general,  always  seeming  to  consult  rather  than  command. 

How  noble  those  words  from  ROCHAMBEAU,  addressed  to  Washington  on 
the  day  he  set  foot  on  American  soil,  "By  order  of  the  King,  my  master,  I 
shall  serve  henceforth  under  the  command  of  Your  Excellency.  I  will  do 
so  with  all  the  zeal  and  admiration  I  feel  for  you  and  the  great  ability 
which  you  have  displayed  in  this  memorable  war. ' ' 

Later  on  when  the  task  was  accomplished,  ROCHAMBEAU  thanked  the 
President  of  the  Congress  for  the  expressions  of  satisfaction  which  were 
addressed  to  him.  Again  he  paid  homage  to  the  talents  of  the  commander 
in  chief  of  the  allied  forces:  "  If  I  have  been  happy  enough  to  deserve  the 
approbation  of  Your  Excellency  and  the  approbation  of  Congress,  it  can 
only  be  for  the  activity  with  which  I  have  followed  the  plans  of  General 
Washington." 

At  the  same  time  the  Count  de  Grasse,  writing  to  ROCHAMBEAU,  says  of 
Washington:  "I  would  be  very  sorry  not  to  receive  any  more  letters  from 
this  general.  He  writes  as  well  as  he  wages  war.  What  a  man!  " 

Such  a  chief  aided  by  such  devotion  must  ever  be  victorious.  So  he 
was.  At  the  end  of  the  war  the  new  nation  had  won  independence.  It 
was  necessary  to  insure  its  own  economical  and  social  development.  By 
happy  chance  the  military  genius  who  had  won  freedom  for  his  people 
was  capable  of  laying  the  foundation  of  a  fruitful  peace  and  directing  as 
marvelous  a  development  as  a  nation  could  desire. 

In  a  letter  written  in  1786,  Washington  says:  "The  sincerity,  honor, 
and  bravery  of  your  troops,  the  high-minded  patriotism,  and  the  delicate 
sympathy  which  animate  so  many  of  your  compatriots  with  whom  I  can 
venture  to  say  I  am  intimately  acquainted,  and  above  all  the  keen  interest 
which  your  illustrious  monarch  and  his  loyal  subjects  have  taken  in  the 
success  of  the  American  cause  and  in  the  development  of  our  independ 
ence,  have  made  your  nation  very  dear  to  us  and  have  formed  ties  and  left 
us  impressions  which  neither  time  nor  circumstances  can  destroy." 

These  are,  gentlemen,  the  last  thoughts  of  Washington.  They  find  a 
clear  echo  in  our  hearts  after  the  friendly  reception  you  have  given  the 
French  Mission;  .after  the  ovation  with  which  you  have  greeted  us;  after 
the  eloquent  and  patriotic  speeches  we  have  just  heard,  and  also  after  the 
generous  proofs  of  sympathy  the  American  nation  has  given  lately 'to  our 
unfortunate  compatriots  in  Martinique.  And  in  conclusion  I  reiterate 
the  words  ROCHAMBEAU  pronounced  in  1781:  "Entrevouset  nous,  a  la 
vie,  a  la  mort!"  (We  are  one  in  life  or  death.) 


Unveiling  of  the  Statue  107 

The  last  touch  of  the  finished  word  portraiture  of  the  human 
ity,  the  heroism,  and  the  honors  of  ROCHAMBKAU  and  his 
Frenchmen  were  complete.  The  homing  of  the  lessons  were 
drawn  in  the  skillful  rhetorical  flights  of  the  orator.  The 
United  States  Marine  Band  struck  up  "America" — 

My  country  'tis  of  thee, 
Sweet  land  of  liberty. 

The  last  strain  of  this  impressive  melody,  still  lingering  on 
the  ear,  was  followed  by  the  Right  Rev.  Henry  Y.  Satterlee, 
Bishop  of  Washington,  in  this  benediction: 

BENEDICTION 

May  our  Heavenly  Father,  the  God  of  nations,  bless  and  perpetuate 
those  sacred  memories  which  bind  the  United  States  of  America  and  the 
Republic  of  France  together  in  lasting  friendship,  and  grant  that  each 
Commonwealth  may  stand  among  the  nations  as  a  witness  and  defender 
for  the  true  principles  of  liberty,  fraternity,  and  equality. 

Bless  the  rulers  with  wisdom  and  the  people  with  honorable  industry, 
sound  learning,  and  pure  manners. 

Increase  among  all  nations  the  spirit  of  unity,  peace,  and  concord,  and 
may  the  Lord  bless  us  and  keep  us;  the  Lord  make  His  face  to  shine 
upon  us,  and  be  gracious  unto  us;  the  Lord  lift  up  His  countenance 
upon  us  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Amen. 

WREATH  FROM  THE  "DAUGHTERS" 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  benediction  a  mammoth  wreath 
of  laurel,  intertwined  with  American  Beauty  roses  and  ribbon 
of  national  colors,  surmounted  by  flags  of  the  United  States 
and  France,  was  placed  on  the  ROCHAMBEAU  statue  by  an 
official  deputation  of  the  National  Society  of  the  Daughters 
of  the  American  Revolution,  consisting  of  Mrs.  Charles  W. 
Fairbanks,  president-general,  and  the  Franco- American  memo 
rial  committee,  Mrs.  Robert  S.  Hatcher,  chairman;  Mrs.  Adlai 
B.  Stevenson,  Mrs.  John  W.  Foster,  Mrs.  Daniel  Manning, 
Miss  Mary  Desha,  Mrs.  Mary  Lockwood,  Mrs.  C.  C.  Darwin, 
Mrs.  Alice  Akers,  and  Mrs.  George  M.  Sternberg.  . 


io8  Unveiling  of  the  Statue 

A  COLONIAL  WREATH  AND  ADDRESS 

The  Society  of  the  Colonial  Dames  of  America,  through  a 
delegation  sent  for  the  purpose,  placed  a  wreath  upon  the  statue. 
An  interesting  association  with  the  lives  of  one  of  the  heroes  of 
long  ago,  was  the  descent  of  the  head  of  the  Washington  dele 
gation  in  the  third  generation  from  Count  de  Grasse.  This 
society,  by  the  hand  of  Miss  Boudinot,  another  surname  memory 
of  the  Revolution,  presented  to  Count  de  Rochambeau  an  ad 
dress' in  the  following  words: 

For  our  president,  in  her  absence,  and  in  behalf  of  the  Society  of  the 
Colonial  Dames  of  America,  it  is  my  pleasant  duty  to  lay  this  wreath  at  the 
foot  of  this  statue,  in  grateful  remembrance  of  the  service  rendered  our 
ancestors  by  lieutenant-General  le  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  Marshal  of 
France.  Further,  I  am  bidden  to  extend  a  hearty  welcome  to  the  mem 
bers  of  this  special  embassy  from  France,  coming  so  far  for  the  purpose 
for  which  we  are  gathered  here  to-day.  Among  these  we  note  the  beloved 
name  of  L/afayette.  Monsieur  le  Comte  and  Mme.  le  Comtesse  de  Ro 
chambeau  and  Messieurs,  I  pray  you,  in  the  name  of  the  Colonial  Dames 
of  America,  ' '  Soyez  les  bien venus. ' ' 

OFF  FOR  THE   REVIEW 

At  the  close  of  the  exercises  the  President  lingered  some 
minutes  in  conversation  with  the  guests  of  the  nation.  He 
then  led  off  with  Ambassador  Cambon,  descending  from  the 
grand  stand,  followed  by  the  members  of  his  Cabinet,  of  the 
French  Mission,  and  of  the  Diplomatic  Corps.  After  a  tour 
of  inspection  around  the  base  of  the  statue  the  President  and 
the  Ambassador  led  the  way  to  the  reviewing  stand  on  the 
opposite  side  of  Pennsylvania  avenue. 

TROOPS    IN   MOTION 

The  moment  the  unveiling  ceremonies  were  completed  the 
troops  massed  in  Lafayette  Park  were  in  step  with  the  right  of 
the  column  located  on  Pennsylvania  avenue  and  Eighteenth 
street  NW. 

At  this  point  the  Second  Brigade,  consisting  of  the  National 
Guard  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  was  in  line  extending  west 


' 


io8 

Tlu  »ugh  a 

the  pin 

sr  association  with  the  lives  of 
ago,  was  the  descent  of  the  head  of  the  \V 
gation  in  the  third  generation  from  Count  d 
society,  by  the  hand  of  Miss  Boudinot,  another  surname  men 
of  the  Revolution,  pr  Rochambeau  an  ad- 

• 

• 

GEN.  FERDINAND  DE  CHALENDAR 

Commander  of  the  Legion  of  Honor       for  the  purpose 

for  wl  Among  these  \ve  note  the  be! 

nam<  Commander  Fourteenth  Infantry  Brigade,  descendant  of  Chevalier  I<eon  Baptiste 
Marguerite  de  Chalendar,  native  of  Bonai,  near  I,e  Puy,  who  entered  Regiment 
Gatinais  1771,  and  was  specially  distinguished  in  the  affairs  of  the  siege  of  Yorktown, 
Va.,  1781,  being  promoted  to  captain. 

At  the  close  of   the  e> 
minute^  in  conversation  with  the  giK 
then  led  off  with  Ambassador  Car 

grand  stand,  followed  by  the  mer  the 

•h  Mission,  and  of  l  Vfter  a  tour 

of  inspection  around  the  e  the  President  and 

the  Ambassador  led  the  way  to   ihe   reviewing  stand  on  the 
opposite  ennsylvania  avc 

ION 

e  moment  the  in,  Hie 

issed  in  Lafayett 

>cated  ori   P<  Eighth- 

ting  of  the  National 
line  extending  west 


Unveiling  of  the  Statue  109 

along  Pennsylvania  avenue,  the  head  of  the  column  resting  on 
Eighteenth  street. 

The  saluting  battery,  after  performing  its  special  part  in  the 
ceremonies  from  the  White  House  grounds,  moved  to  another 
position  on  Eighteenth  street  south  of  Pennsylvania  avenue. 
The  cavalry  formed  on  Eighteenth  street  north  of  H. 

By  this  arrangement  the  infantry  of  the  First  Brigade  were 
enabled  to  reach  the  right  of  the  line  from  Lafayette  Park 
along  H  to  Eighteenth  streets,  prepared  to  move  off  when  the 
order  ' '  March ' '  was  sounded. 

From  this  point  the  column  moved  east  along  Pennsylvania 
avenue,  reaching  the  reviewing  stand,  at  the  intersection  of 
Executive  and  Pennsylvania  avenues,  nearly  in  front  of  the 
White  House,  at  12.45  p.  m.  The  reviewing  party  consisted  of 
the  President,  the  French  ambassador,  and  General  Brugere. 
Near  them  were  the  members  of  the  French  Mission,  members 
of  the  Cabinet,  military,  navy,  and  civil  officers.  The  colors  of 
the  United  States  and  France  were  blended  in  great  profusion  in 
honor  of  .the  occasion. 

THE  COLUMN 

In  advance  of  the  marching  forces  moved  a  detachment  of 
mounted  police. 

Then  followed  Maj.  Gen.  S.  B.  M.  Young,  surrounded  by  a 
numerous  staff  representing  each  branch  of  the  military  estab 
lishment,  the  Engineer's  Band  playing  "Hail  to  the  Chief." 

First  Brigade,  Lieut.  Col.  E.  D.  Dimmick,  commanding. 

Battalion  of  Engineers,  right  of  the  line,  Maj.  W.  M.  Black, 
commanding,  with  band  playing  "Hail  to  the  Chief." 

Battalion  United  States  Marines,  Maj.  Charles  A.  Doyen, 
U.  S.  Marine  Corps,  commanding,  with  the  U.  S.  Marine  Band, 
W.  H.  Santelmann,  director. 

Battalion  of  seamen,  preceded  by  drum  corps  and  band  of  24 
pieces,  playing  an  American  air,  Lieut.  F.  M.  Urvoy,  command 
ing  (detached  from  the  cuirasse  d'escadre  Gaulois). 


iio  Unveiling  of  the  Statue 

Battalion  of  United  States  seamen,  Lieut.  B.  W.  Wells,  com 
manding,  from  the  United  States  battle  ships  Kearsarge  and 
Alabama. 

Fourth  Field  Battery  of  Artillery,  U.  S.  Army,  Capt.  F.  M. 
Foote,  Artillery  Corps,  commanding. 

Second  Squadron,  Second  Cavalry,  U.  S.  Army,  Capt.  L.  M. 
Brett,  Second  Cavalry,  U.  S.  Army,  commanding,  with  band, 
24  pieces,  on  white  horses. 

Hospital  Corps  company,  U.  S.  Army,  Capt.  and  Assist 
ant  Surg.  Frederick  P.  Reynolds,  U.  S.  Army,  commanding. 

Brigade  of  the  District  of  Columbia  National  Guard,  Brig. 
Gen.  George  H.  Harries,  commanding;  staff;  brigade  band; 
company  of  Engineers,  First  Lieut,  Roy  B.  Hayes,  commanding. 

Second  Regiment  of  Infantry,  Col.  M.  Emmet  Urell,  com 
manding,  composed  of  the  Fifth  Battalion,  Maj.  R.  D.  Simms; 
Sixth,  Maj.  Wm.  E.  Harvey;  Fourth,  Maj.  Anton  Stephan. 

First  Regiment  of  Infantry,  Col.  Henry  May,  commanding; 
Second  Battalion,  Maj.  L.  H.  Reichelderfer;  First,  Maj.  S. 
Porterhouse. 

First  Separate  Battalion  of  Infantry,  Maj.  Arthur  Brooks, 
commanding,  headed  by  the  corps  of  field  music. 

Signal  Corps,  First  Lieut.  William  Niemeyer,  commanding. 

Naval  Battalion,  Lieut.  Commander  S.  G.  Hopkins,  com 
manding. 

Ambulance  Corps,  First  Lieut.  W.  D.  Fales,  commanding. 

In  passing,  each  flag  was  dipped  and  marching  salutes  were 
executed  to  the  President. 

The  troops,  and  particularly  the  French  appearing  in  the 
character  of  specially  favored  participants,  were  received  with 
great  applause  along  the  entire  route. 

COMPLIMENTS    OF    BRUGKRE 

General  Brugere  watched  with  the  eye  of  a  soldier  and  dis 
ciplinarian  the  appearance  and  action  of  the  United  States  troops 
in  passing  and  complimented  the  President,  as  their  Commander 
in  Chief,  upon  the  precision  of  their  movements.  The  Presi 
dent  replied  in  words  of  praise  of  the  fine  appearance  of  the  sea 
men  of  the  Gaulois,  although  they  were  "out  of  their  element." 


HADW3MA  10  HMUJOO 
AM  QMA 


Battalion  of  Ur  ,om 

manding,  fro 
Alabama. 

Fo 
Foo- 


.'•apt.    ar, 

trd,  Brig 
.'•ade  band 

••  -s,  First  Lieut,'  Roy  B.  H  .ding 

eginient  of  Infantn  mmet  Urell 

manding,  composed  of  the  Fifth  Bat; 
Six'  Harvey;   Fourf 

~Sfc~=,r  —Eft 

Porterhouse. 

First  Separate  Battalion  ,srthur  Brooks 

commanding,  heade^ 

Signal  Corps,  Firs 

Naval   Battalion,    L 
manding. 

Ambulance  C  Banding. 

In  passing,  each  flag  rching  sa) 

•ed  to  the  President. 

!Kl   Parti  -ipijearing  in   the 

eceived  with 
•e  route. 


in  Cl 
dent 

»f  the 


Unveiling  of  the  Statue  1 1 1 

The  day  was  fitful  in  meteorological  conditions,  beginning 
with  bright  sunshine  and  beautiful  cloud  effects,  culminat 
ing  in  a  brief  but  fierce  downpour  during  Ambassador  Cam- 
bon's  address.  The  temperature  was  at  summer  heat  and  the 
humidity  high. 

At  the  end  of  the  review  the  President  and  Cabinet  returned 
to  the  White  House  under  escort  of  a  detachment  of  ' '  Minute 
Men." 

In  taking  leave  of  the  "  Minute  Men  "  the  President  said: 

I  want  to  thank  you  very  much  for  having  come  in  the  uniform  of  the 
Continentals  to  escort  the  President  of  the  United  States  on  an  occasion 
so  fraught  with  historic  reminiscences. 

The  members  of  the  French  Mission  were  escorted  to  their 
hotel  by  a  troop  of  cavalry. 

END   OF   THE    PARADE 

At  the  end  of  the  route  of  march,  at  Fifteenth  street,  the 
United  States  artillery  and  cavalry  moved  north  to  K  street 
and  thence  to  the  post  at  Fort  Myer. 

The  foot  troops,  Regulars,  paraded  down  Pennsylvania 
avenue  to  their  respective  stations. 

The  National  Guard  were  reviewed  by  General  Harries  and 
then  proceeded  to  their  armories. 

The  United  States  marines  and  sailors  acted  as  escort  to  the 
French  battalion  to  the  railroad  station,  where  the  usual  com 
plimentary  parting  maneuvers  took  place,  after  which  the 
marines  continued  to  their  quarters.  The  French  sailors 
boarded  their  trains  in  waiting  and  returned  to  the  Gaulois, 
off  Annapolis. 


AT  THE  CAPITOL 


During  the  afternoon  the  foreign  guests  under  escort  of  the 
President's  commission  and  Mrs.  Peiree  were  conducted  on  a 
tour  of  sight-seeing,  their  first  object  of  interest  being  the 
Capitol. 

REPRESENTATIVE  M'CLEARY  RECEIVES  GUESTS  OF  THE  NATION 

The  party  were  met  at  the  main  entrance  by  Representative 
James  T.  McCleary,  chairman  of*  the  House  Committee  on  the 
Library,  who  accompanied  them  to  the  office  of  the  Speaker. 

SPEAKER   HENDERSON   AND    GENERAL   BRUGERE   EXCHANGE 
FELICITATIONS 

After  the  usual  greeting  Speaker  Henderson,  in  a  few  happy 
remarks,  said: 

American  mothers  teach  their  children  that  France  was  the  friend  of 
the  Colonies  in  the  struggle  which  "ended  in  the  birth  of  the  States  as  a 
nation,  and  instill  in  their  hearts  a  sentiment  of  gratitude  toward  our 
friend  and  ally. 

He  was  greatly  pleased  to  welcome  the  members  of  the  French 
Mission  and  of  'the  families  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  Lafayette  to 
the  constituent  body  of  the  American  people  in  the  law-making 
branch  of  the  Government.  An  expression  of  the  feeling  of 
grateful  remembrance  was  manifested  in  the  adjournment  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  the  memory 
of  ROCHAMBEAU. 

General  Brugere,  in  behalf  of  the  Mission  and  others  in  the 

company,  speaking  in  French,  which  was  translated  as  he  pro 

gressed,  said  he  felt  impressed  with  the  spirit  of  friendliness 

which  had  met  the   Mission  everywhere.     He  could  say  the 

S.  Doc.  537,  59-1  -  ,8  113 


ii4  Ai  the  Capitol 

same  feeling  existed  in  all  stations  in  life  in  France.  Although 
his  time  was  entirely  taken  up  in  the  affairs  of  his  own  country, 
he  felt  himself  highly  honored  and  equally  happy  when  he  was 
designated  to  the  Commission  to  take  part  in  the  unveiling  of 
the  statue  of  the  great  French  general  of  the  auxiliary  army 
of  France  in  America. 

COMTESSE    DE    ROQHAMBEAU   SPEAKS    FOR   THE   OLD    FIELD 

MARSHAL 

The  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau,  with  captivating  grace,  spoke 
in  behalf  of  the  name  and  American  fame  of  ROCHAMBEAU. 
The  enthusiasm  which  moved  everybody,  from  the  President 
of  the  United  States  to  the  humblest  citizen  and  soldier,  in 
perpetuation  of  his  memory,  she  realized  was  sincere,  and 
therefore  greatly  appreciated. 

In  passing  the  Hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives  on  their 
way  to  the  Senate  wing  of  the  Capitol,  Mr.  McCleary  pointed  to 
the  life-size  full-length  portrait  of  Lafayette,  on  the  left  of  the 
Speaker's  chair.  General  Brugere  and  the  entire  suite  were 
deeply  sensible  of  this  great  national  honor  to  their  countryman, 
Lafayette,  considering  it  as  conveying  in  the  highest  degree  the 
relation  in  which  France,  through  this  volunteer  in  the  cause 
of  liberty,  stood  toward  the  people  and  their  Representatives 
in  the  Congress  el  the  United  States. 

CHAIRMEN    Cx  NNON   AND    DINGLEY    EXPLAIN   EXPENSES 

After  visiting  the  rooms  of  the  Committee  on  Appropria 
tions,  where  Chairman  Cannon,  after  a  cordial  welcome, 
explained  how  the  Government  legislated  the  hundreds  of 
millions  of  dollars  every  year  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  Gov 
ernment,  and  of  the  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means,  where 
Chairman  Dingley  made  a  few  remarks  in  explanation  of  how 
the  vast  revenues  were  raised  to  meet  these  expenditures,  the 
party  were  taken  to  Statuary  Hall.  Representative  McCleary, 
a  man  of  profound  learning  in  all  that  pertains  to  American 
history,  pointed  out  particular^  the  statues  of  the  men  who  had 
figured  in  the  Revolutionary  contest  as  statesmen  and  soldiers. 


At  the  Capitol  115 

In  each  the  General  and  those  with  him  showed  the  deepest 
interest,  and  especially  in  New  York's  representative  in  this 
assemblage  of  greatness  in  marble  and  bronze,  Chancellor  Liv 
ingston,  who,  by  negotiation  and  purchase  from  France,  made 
the  immense  territory  of  Louisiana  an  integral  part  of  the 
domain  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

ASSEMBLY   OF   THE   STATES 

Thence,  proceeding  still  under  the  thoughtful  care  of  Mr. 
McCleary  to  the  Rotunda,  the  Mission  and  those  with  them 
regretfully  took  leave,  each  in  turn,  of  the  distinguished  Min- 
nesotan,  who  had  so  much  enlightened  them  on  American  affairs 
pertaining  to  the  people's  share  in  the  law-making  power,  in 
order  to  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  Sergeant-at-Arms  of  the 
Senate,  Mr.  Ransdell,  who  was  in  waiting. 

The  great  Rotunda  paintings  by  Trumbull  profoundly  im 
pressed  them.  These  best  life  pictures  of  ROCHAMBEAU  in 
America  were  known  to  be  from  the  pencil  and  brush  of  this 
father  of  American  art.  The  great  scene  of  the  surrender 
at  Yorktown,  with  ROCHAMBEAU  and  his  Frenchmen  on  one 
side  and  Washington  and  his  Americans  on  the  other,  with 
O'Hara  between  them  surrendering  the  sword  of  England  to 
General  Lincoln,  deputed  by  Washington  as  the  representative 
of  the  allied  armies,  especially  engaged  their  attention  and  oral 
tribute  in  the  language  of  ROCHAMBEAU. 

WELCOME    BY   PRESIDENT    PRO   TEMPORE 

The  Sergeant-at-Arms  then  led  them  to  the  room  of  the  Presi 
dent  pro  tempore,  Mr.  Frye,  who  gave  an  eloquent  welcome 
on  behalf  of  the  Senate,  which  he  said  represented  the  States  of 
the  Union — the  original  thirteen,  for  the  independence  of  which 
ROCHAMBEAU  and  his  army  of  Frenchmen  fought  as  auxiliary 
to  the  Continentals  under  Washington,  commander  in  chief, 
having  now  increased  to  forty-five  in  number,  in  one  of  which 
the  population  in  the  year  1900  was  more  than  twice  and  in 
another  twice  that  of  the  whole  of  the  thirteen  combined  at  the 


n6  At  the  Capitol 

time  of  the  Revolution,  both  of  these  States  having  been  among 
the  original  thirteen.  He  called  attention  to  the  admiration 
which  Washington  had  for  ROCHAMBEAU,  as  handed  down  in 
his  writings,  and  pointing  to  the  Peale  portrait  on  the  wall, 
continued,  ''here  we  have  the  commander  in  chief  himself  in 
lifelike  expression.  After  the  events  of  to-day  we  shall  have 
ROCHAMBEAU  in  bronze  to  remind  us  of  the  devoted  coadjutor 
of  Washington  in  the  transactions  of  arms. ' ' 

GENERAL   BRUGERE    REPLIES 

General  Brugere  spoke  for  France  in  appreciation  of  the 
hearty  welcome  of  the  President  ,pro  tempore  of  the  Senate. 
He  said,  having  realized  to  the  fullest  extent  the  sentiments 
of  friendship  of  the  President  in  his  address  at  the  unveiling  of 
the  monument,  representing  the  nation  nationally  and  inter 
nationally;  of  the  Speaker,  representing  the  body  politic  of  the 
American  people;  he  had  now  reached  the  climax  of  the  Presi 
dent  pro  tempore,  representing  the  bod}7  politic  of  the  States 
in  their  sovereign  capacity  under  the  supreme  Constitution,  and 
aggregately  the  organizing  force  that  goes  to  make  up  the 
strength  and  greatness  of  American  institutions. 

SENATOR   WETMORE   THANKED 

Senator  Wetmore,  chairman  of  the  Joint  Committee  on  the 
Library,  also  extended  his  felicitations  to  the  party,  who  recog 
nized  in  him  in  the  Senate,' as  in  Representative  McCleary  in  the 
House,  the  persons  to  whose  exertions  the  raising  of  a  monu 
ment  to  ROCHAMBEAU  and  his  French  troops  was  due  in  the 
course  of  Congressional  enactment. 

The  party  manifested  the  deepest  interest  in  the  magnitude 
and  interior  arrangements  of  the  official  home  of  the  law-making 
arm  of  the  sovereign  people,  and  asked  numerous  questions. 

TO   THE    LIBRARY   OF    CONGRESS 

After  leaving  the  Capitol  the  members  of  the  Mission  and 
their  escort  were  driven  to  the  Library  of  Congress,  where  they 
were  received  by  the  Librarian  in  his  office.  After  a  brief  con- 


At  the  Capitol  117 

versation  the  party  was  shown  about  the  building  by  the  Libra 
rian  and  certain  chiefs  of  divisions.  The  visitors  were  impressed 
not  only  by  the  magnitude  of  the  accommodations  for  books, 
but  by  the  beautiful  architectural  effects  of  marble,  mosaic,  and 
fresco,  especially  in  the  grand  entrance  hall  and  staircases  and 
reading  rooms.  They  were  also  interested  in  the  mechanical 
appliances  for  calling  for  and  delivery  of  books  at  the  desk. 
Several  very  interesting  practical  tests  of  the  pneumatic  tube ; 
were  made,  the  members  of  the  party  calling  for  volumes  which 
interested  them,  finding  a  quick  response. 

FINALE   AT   THE    FRENCH    EMBASSY 

The  closing  function  of  the  day  and  of  the  week  of  ROCHAM- 
BEAU  was  a  reception  at  the  French  embassy  from  9  to  n  p.  m. 
Owing  to  the  death  of  Lord  Pauncefote,  the  British  ambassador 
and  dean  of  the  Diplomatic  Corps,  the  outdoor  features  of  the 
entertainment,  a  musical  concert  by  the  band  of  the  Gaulois 
and  an  illumination  of  the  embassy  with  pyrotechnic  scenes  of 
the  Revolution,  were  abandoned. 

The  Ambassador  and  Mme.  Cambon,  assisted  by  General 
Brugere  an.d  Comte  and  Comtesse  Rochambeau,  standing  within 
the  entrance  to  the  main  drawing-room,  received  the  invited 
guests,  who  numbered  several  hundred.  Among  them  were 
the  entire  personnel  of  the  Diplomatic  Corps,  members  of  the 
Cabinet,  a  large  number  of  officers  of  the  Army  and  Navy,  the 
representatives  of  the  Irish  Historical  Society,  and  the  higher 
officers  of  the  Government. 

The  hostess,  in  a  superb  gown  of  white  satin,  and  jewels, 
wore  on  her  left  shoulder  the  sparkling  star-shaped  order 
of  the  Chefakat,  bestowed  upon  her  by  the  Sultan  of  Turkey. 
The  Comtesse  was  gowned  in  white  satin  and  lace,  jewels, 
pearls  and  diamonds. 

M.  and  Mme.  Margerie,  Captain  and  Mme.  Vignal,  M.  Bceufve, 
Lieutenant  de  Faramond,  M.  Hermite,  and  M.  Ayguesparsse 
were  unremitting  "in  their  attentions  and  contributions  to  the 
pleasures  of  the  evening. 


u8  At  the  Capitol 

The  drawing-room  was  hung  with  the  flags  and  festooned 
with  the  c6lors  of  the  two  nations.  The  mantels  were  banked 
with  American  Beauty  roses  and  white  lilacs  in  great  profusion. 

SONS   OF   THE   AMERICAN    REVOLUTION   GIVE    GREETING 

An  interesting  feature  of  a  special  meeting  of  the  Sons  of  the 
American  Revolution  in  honor  of  Ambassador  Porter,  president 
of  the  Society  in  France  and  former  president-general  of  the 
National  Society  in  the  United  States,  was  the  presence  of  Comte 
de  Rochambeau,  accompanied  by  M.  Jules  Boeufve.  The  Count 
was  escorted  from  the  French  embassy  by  a  committee  of  the 
society  to  the  place  of  meeting,  arriving  at  10.30,  after  the  reg 
ular  proceedings  had  been  concluded.  As  he  entered  he  was 
greeted  with  great  cheers  of  welcome  and  formally  introduced 
by  Noble  D.  L,arner,  president. 

The  Count  made  a  speech  in  reply,  in  French,  which  Ambas 
sador  Porter,  at  his  request,  repeated  in  English,  thanking  the 
society  for  its  thoughtful  invitation  and  the  cordial  greeting 
they  had  given  him.  He  had  long  heard  of  the  society,  its  pur 
pose  and  its  efforts,  and  particularly  its  interest  in  his  country 
men.  It  made  him  extremely  happy  to  meet  and  speak  to  the 
descendants  of  the  soldiers  of  Washington,  and  their  companions 
of  the  Army,  of  ROCHAMBEAU.  He  congratulated  them  upon 
their  work  and  wished  them  every  success,  especiallj7  in  keeping 
alive  the  memory  of  the  alliance  with  France  and  the  cama 
raderie  of  the  soldiers  of  the  two  chieftains. 

COURRIER    DES    ETATS-UNIS   ON   THE    COMMEMORATION 

The  Courrier  des  fitats-Unis,  the  organ  of  the  French  people 
in  America,  and  their  mouthpiece  among  their  countrymen  at 
home,  commenting  on  the  events  of  the  day  said: 

Not  alone  do  we  see  side  by  side  the  highest  representatives  of  the  Re 
public  of  the  United  States  and  the  envoys  of  President  L,oubet,  grouped 
under  the  folds  of  the  French  and  American  flags,  but  also  a  strong 
detachment  of  "Fusileers  Marines  "(marine  fusileers),  debarked,  from  the 
battle  ship  Gaulois,  under  arms,  marching  by  the  side  of  companies  from 
the  American  squadron  at  Annapolis. 


At  the  Capitol  119 

Above  all  the  addresses  pronounced  by  the  representatives  of  the  two 
countries  were  an  homage  rendered  to  the  "alliance"  which  united 
France  and  the  United  States,  the  remembrance  of  which  will  be  trans 
mitted  from  generation  to  generation. 

MILITARY    ORDER    OF   THE    FRENCH    ALLIANCE 

On  February  17,  1903,  as  a  military  social  recognition  of  the 
events  characterized  by  the  celebration  at  the  American  capital 
on  May  24,  1902,  and  the  genial  spirit  of  individual  and  inter 
national  amity  which  grew  out  of  the  presence  of  the  French  ' 
Mission  and  the  members  of  the  families  of  the  two  most  dis 
tinguished  Frenchmen  connected  with  the  military  operations 
of  the  Continental  and  French  armies,  the  Military  Order  of 
the  French  Alliance  was  instituted  by  descendants  of  the  offi 
cers  of  the  allied  armies  of  France  and  America  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  as  a  special  tribute  to  the  French  alliance  of 
1778,  and  to  perpetuate  the  martial  deeds  and  victories  of  the 
allied  armies,  as  well  as  to  preserve  the  bonds  of  fraternal 
fellowship  formed  by  companionship  in  arms,  and  to  keep  in 
mind  the  debt  of  gratitude  which  America  owes  France. 

The  eligibility  applies  to  male  descendants  of  officers  of  the 
allied  armies  and  navies  of  both  countries,  on  invitation,  as 
hereditary  companions.  Any  officer  of  the  present  French 
army  and  navy,  upon  whom  has  been  conferred  the  Cross  of 
the  Legion  of  Honor,  and  officers  of  the  United  States  army, 
upon  whom  has  been  conferred  the  Medal  of  Honor,  are  eligible 
as  hereditary  companions. 

During  the  morning  the  President  received  at  the  White 
House  the  members  of  the  Cercle  Litteraire  Franco- Americain 
(Franco- American  Literary  Society),  L' Alliance  Francaise  de 
Brooklyn  (French  Alliance  of  Brooklyn),  the  Irish- American 
Historical  Society  of  New  York  and  New  England,  and  Na 
tional  Association  of  Frenchmen  of  Philadelphia,  who  had 
come  to  Washington  on  a  special  train  in  order  to  assist  at  the 
dedication. 


120  At  the  Capitol 

TOUCH    OF   ART   IN    GOOD 

A  circumstance  in  harmony  with  the  prevailing  sentiment  of 
reminiscence  and  commemoration  was  the  receipt  at  the  French 
embassy  from  France — simultaneously  with  the  arrival  of  the 
' '  Guests ' '  at  Washington  and  Mission  at  Annapolis — of  three 
superb  oil  paintings,  as  one  of  the  incidents  of  the  friendly 
exchanges  between  the  two  countries,  all  skillfully  treated  in 
the  characteristic  style  of  French  art. 

CONNECTION   WITH   THE   ROCHAMBEAU   MONUMENT   EXERCISES 

The  largest,  an  immense  canvas  by  Fernand  de  Quesne, 
portrayed  Louis  XIV  in  the  Salon  de  la  Paix,  at  his  palace  at 
Versailles,  handing  to  the  famous  explorer  Chevalier  de  Cadillac 
letters  patent,  bestowing  upon  the  French  post  at  the  connect 
ing  waters  of  Lakes  Huron  and  Brie,  the  franchises  and  grants 
of  a  city  of  New  France  under  the  name  Detroit  (Strait). 

The  King  in  costume  of  ceremony,  in  buff,  and  Cadillac  in  a 
brilliant  shade  of  green,  occupy  the  foreground. 

Behind  the  King  stands  Louis  Boucheret,  chancellor  of 
France,  in  a  trained  robe  of  pink,  and  on  his  right  the  ministers 
of  state,  M.  de  Bartsezieux;  war,  M.  de  Colbert;  foreign  affairs, 
Marquis  cfe  Torcy;  controller-general  of  the  finances,  Louis 
Phelypeaux,  Comte  de.Pontchar train  (father);  navy,  Jerome  D. 
Pontchartrain  (son),  and  several  other  distinguished  personages 
of  his  court;  on  the  left  are  three  mousquetaires  du  roi.  Be 
neath  the  painting  is  "the  legend  ' '  Presented  in  the  name  of  the 
French  Republic  by  his  Excellency,  M.  Jules  Cambon."  It  is 
also  accompanied  by  a  key. 

It  must  not  be  omitted  to  say  the  elder  Pontchartrain  in  the 
painting  was  the  grandfather  of  Comte  de  Maurepas,  who  suc 
ceeded  his  father  Jerome  de  Pontchartrain  as  secretary  of  state, 
but  being  rather  handy  with  his  wit,  pointing  an  epigram  at 
"the  Madame"  (de  Pompadour),  so  offended  the  royal  favor 
ite  that  he  was  exiled  from  court  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  but 
was  recalled  in  time  to  participate  in  the  negotiations  with  the 
States,  which  reached  a  finality  in  the  treaty  of  alliance. 


I2O 

BU, 

iment  of 

reminiso.  .pt  at  the  French 

emb.  h  the  arrival  ol. 

,:iapolis — of  three 

the  friendly 

excl  :/n  the  t  -eated  in 


the  com 

ing  water  ie,  the  franchises  and  grants 

of  a  city  of  New  France  uW^ffflf  4Jfif«ftWfi  (Strait). 

TheTAe  founding  of  Detroit,  ttow.&Vtnct,  afterwards  the  State  of  Michigan •,  United  States 

brilliant  shade  of  green,  occr        of  America 

Behind  the  King  stai; 
France,  in  a  trained  robe  o 
of  state.  M.  de  Ba 

Phel 

Pohtchar ! 

of  h;  '.he  left 

.•nted  in  the  name  of  the 
••:.  Jules  Cambon."     It  is 

. 

elder  Pontchartrain  in  the 
A  ho  suc- 
1  ary  of  state, 
,  11  at 
"the 
ite  tl) 

States,  wh 


At  the   Capitol  121 

After  remaining  at  the  embassy  on  private  exhibition  some 
months  the  painting  was  forwarded  by  the  ambassador  to  the 
mayor  of  Detroit  (Mr.  William  C.  Maybury)  "in  the  name  of 
the  French  Government." 

The  mayor  promptly  transmitted  this  letter  with  a  message 
to  the  common  council  of  the  city,  observing — 

This  gift  of  the  Republic  of  France  is  most  acceptable  to  us,  more 
especially  in  view  of  the  fact  that  it  recalls  the  founding  of  Detroit  by 
the  French  and  calls  up  their  early  efforts  amid  hardships  and  privation 
to  found  this  goodly  city  upon  foundations  of  liberty,  religion,  justice, 
and  equality. 

The  gift  having  been  accepted  under  resolutions  of  council 
unanimously  adopted,  a  committee  of  three,  together  with  the 
mayor,  was  appointed  to  draft  resolutions  of  thanks,  which 
were  handsomely  engraved,  for  presentation  to  the  French 
Republic. 

The  painting,  in  order  to  be  more  suitably  exhibited  and 
cared  for  was  temporarily  placed  in  the  Museum  of  Art.  The 
other  two  paintings  of  Lafayette  and  ROCHAMBEAU  represent 
them  in  the  uniforms  of  the  period,  the  former  as  an  officer 
9f  artillery,  the  latter  as  lieutenant-general  commanding  the 
auxiliary  army  of  France.  They  remain  at  the  embassy  for 
the  present,  but  ultimately  will  adorn  a  collection  of  art  of 
national  reputation. 

FIGARO,    MORNING  AND    AFTERNOON 

On  the  morning  of  the  24th,  simultaneously  with  the  instal 
lation  of  the  monument  at  Washington,  the  Figaro,  newspaper, 
of  Paris,  France,  issued  an  8 -page  supplement— which  appeared 
the  same  day,  in  the  American  language — entirely  devoted  to 
ROCHAMBEAU  and  Americans  at  home  and  in  Paris,  historical 
and  caricature  illustrations,  reprints  of  contemporary  accounts 
of  the  surrender  at  Yorktown  in  the  Paris  and  London  news 
papers,  and  other  relevant  facts  and  comments  of  the  time, 
embellished  with  many  portraits  retrospective  and  present. 

The  Figaro  in  the  afternoon  gave  a  "5  o'clock"  in  honor 
of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  fetes  at  Washington.  The  guests  were 


122  At  the  Capitol 

almost  exclusively  representative  members  of  the  American 
colony. 

A  musicale  and  theatrical  entertainment  which  followed  was 
as  much  an  honor  to  that  journal  as  it  was  to  the  subject  of 
commemoration. 

Among  the  specialties  was  a  collection  of  bugle  calls  and 
drum  and  fife  marches  used  by  the  regiments  of  ROCHAMBEAU, 
assembled  symphonically  by  Edward  Philippe,  and  rendered  by 
the  band  of  the  ' '  Guarde  Republicaine  de  France ' '  in  full 
uniform. 

These  sounds  of  harmony,  interspersed  with  the  martial 
piping  of  fife  and  rattle  of  drum  in  the  charge  of  ' '  les  soldats 
du  Royal  Auvergne"  and  other  incidents  of  Yorktown,  raised  a 
perfect  frenzy  of  patriotism  and  international  emotion. 

A  number  of  veteran  officers  of  the  United  States  wars, 
among  them  General  Winslow  and  Major  Huntington,  said,  in 
the  way  of  revivifying  military  traditions,  that  this  in  thrilling 
effect  was  beyond  anything  they  had  ever  known. 

In  the  great  throng  present  were  officers  of  the  Thirteenth 
Regiment  of  the  line  in  the  armies  of  Louis  XVI,  the  famous 
Bourbonnais  of  American  fame;  also  the  Eighteenth  Regiment 
of  the  line,  the  gallant  Royal  Auvergne,  particularly  celebrated 
at  Yorktown. 

Another  inspiring  scene  was  an  effective  allocution  to 
ROCHAMBKAU  by  Gaston  Deschamps,  concluding  with  an  elo 
quent  peroration  to  Roosevelt,  not  only  as  a  Chief  Magistrate, 
but  as  a  brave  and  gallant  soldier  doing  homage  to  the  memory 
of  another. 

The  cable  advices  spoke  of  the  occasion,  its  sentiment,  its 
members,  character,  and  enthusiasm  as  the  sensation  of  Paris. 


At  the  Capitol 


123 


In    introducing*  the    ' '  ROCHAMBEAU   extra, ' '    the  editor   of 
Le  Figaro  had  this  to  say : 


PARIS 


Supplement  exceptionnel 

LE  FIGARO 


WASHINGTON 


H.   DE  VlLLEMESSANT 

Fondateur 


SAMEDI,  ,4  MAI  1902 


Fran^ais  d'Ainerique  et  Americaiiis  <le  France,  1781-19O2 

F^TES  DE  ROCHAMBEAU 


THE  inauguration  at  Washington  of  a 
statue  of  ROCHAMBEAU  imposes  upon  the 
Figaro  a  duty  to  itself  and  to  its  readers  in 
America.  The  Figaro  has  for  years  been 
recognized  not  only  in  the  United  States, 
but  in  the  American  colony  established  in 
Paris,  as  the  standard-bearer  of  French  ele 
gance,  culture,  and  art.  The  American 
readers  of  the  Figaro,  therefore,  have  a 
right  to  expect  that  an  event  which  tends 
more  closely  to  forge  the  long-standing 
bonds  between  the  two  countries,  the  value 
and  signification  of  which  have  been  so 
admirably  set  forth  in  the  letter  of  Presi 
dent  Roosevelt  to  M.  Loubet,  should  be 
properly  presented  by  the  Figaro. 

Under  this  sense  of  obligation  the  Figaro 
has  published  this  supplement,  in  which 
by  document  and  design  the  dates  1781- 
1902  are  contrasted  and  brought  together. 
It  contains  a  reproduction  of  the  statue  of 
ROCHAMBEAU,  a  photograph  of  the  pedes 
tal,  and  one  of  the  artist,  M.  Hamar. 
Next  comes  successively  a  portrait  and 
medallion  of  ROCHAMBEAU,  portraits  of 
Franklin,  Washington,  and  Lafayette,  re 
produced  from  precious  and  authentic 
prints.  There  follows  a  curious  drawing 
of  the  famous  scene  where  Voltaire  blesses 
the  grandson  of  Franklin  with  the  words 
"God  and  liberty,"  and  an  allegorical 
print  of  Admiral  d'Estaing,  the  naval  hero 
of  the  war  of  Independence.  The  battle  of 


Yorktown  is  explained  in  a  plan  made 
upon  the  spot  by  engineers  of  the  King  of 
France,  showing  the  relative  position  of 
the  French  and  American  troops.  Then 
follows  the  music  to  which  marched  the 
victorious  armies,  a  print  reproducing  the 
obelisk  put  up  at  Port  Vendres  to  com 
memorate  these  great  events,  some  curious 
caricatures  of  English  statesmen  of  the 
time,  the  first  Dank  notes  issued  by  the 
United  States,  a  series  of  personal  souve 
nirs  of  ROCHAMBEAU,  the  room  in  which 
he  lived,  the  portrait  of  Washington,  which 
was  given  to  him  after  Yorktown,  his 
tomb,  and  his  coat  of  arms. 

The  above  are  framed  in  a  text  which 
includes  extracts  from  newspapers  of  the 
time  and  historical  documents,  of  which 
some — as,  for  example,  the  article  on  the 
capitulation  of  Yorktown,  printed  in  Phila 
delphia — are  unique.  So  much  for  the  past. 

The  present  is  represented  by  the  most 
well-marked  personages  of  the  American 
colony,  those  best  known  in  the  world  of 
business,  of  politics,  and  of  letters,  and 
such  French  writers,  artists,  and  states 
men  as  contribute  daily  to  the  develop 
ment  of  friendly  relations  between  the 
two  countries.  These  are  accompanied 
by  comments  upon  the  American  enter 
prises  in  France,  and  upon  such  arts,  tastes, 
and  sports  as  the  two  countries  shar,e  in 
common. 


BANQUET 


The  capital  of  the  sister  Republic  beyond  the  sea  was 
synchronously  the  scene  of  prandial  and  eulogistic  proceedings. 

On  ROCHAMBEAU  Day  at  Washington  a  banquet  was  given 
at  the  Hotel  Continental  by  American  university  men  in  Paris. 

The  reception  room  was  tastefully  decorated  with  American 
and  French  flags,  relieved  by  portraits  of  Washington,  ROCHAM- 
BKAU,  and  Roosevelt.  A  conspicuous  feature  was  a  model  of 
the  statue  unveiled  at  Washington.  The  banquet  hall,  elabo 
rately  festooned  with  the  Stars  and  Stripes  of  the  States  and 
Tricolor  of  France,  was  adorned  with  banners  on  the  walls 
bearing  the  names  of  the  different  Commonwealths  of  the 
American  Union. 

At  the  request  of  Mr.  John  Munroe,  president  of  the  Ameri 
can  University  Club,  M.  Guillemot,  the  mayor  of  Vendome, 
ROCHAMBEAU' s  birthplace,  presided. 

The  seat  of  honor  was  occupied  by  Marquis  de  Grasse,  in  his 
character  as  lineal  descendant  of  Comte  de  Grasse,  commander 
of  the  French  fleet  in  the  combined  operations  against  the 
British  army  at  Yorktown. 

Among  the  other  descendant  guests  was  Marquis  de  Deuras 
Chastelleux,  a  great-grandnephew  of  the  Marquis  of  that  name 
and  memory,  member  of  the  French  Academy,  personal  friend 
of  Washington,  major-general  in  ROCHAMBEAU'S  army,  and 
writer  of  value  on  contemporary  affairs  and  personages  in 
America.  Also  Comte  de  Chaffaulte,  great-grandson  of  one  of 
Comte  de  Grasse' s  marine  officers,  and  the  young  Comte  Guy 
de  Rochambeau,  brother  of  Comte  de  Rochambeau,  represent 
ing  the  family  at  the  unveiling  ceremonies  at  Washington. 

125 


126  Banquet 

M.  Henry  Vignaud,  charge  d'affaires  of  the  United  States  and 
staff  of  the  American  embassy;  Spencer  Pratt,  and  many  French 
men  and  resident  Americans  prominent  in  art,  industry,  and 
letters  sat  around  the  festive  board. 

"HANDS  ACROSS  THE  SEA" 

The  following  cable  dispatch  from  the  United  States  Secre 
tary  of  State,  John  Hay,  addressed  to  the  mayor  of  Vendome, 
the  birthplace  of  ROCHAMBEAU,  was  read  by  that  functionary: 

MONSIEUR  ivE  MAIRE:  On  this  joyous  anniversary  the  President  requests 
me  to  send  his  cordial  greetings  to  the  French  and  American  citizens 
assembled  in  Paris  to  celebrate  the  historic  friendship  of  France  and 

America. 

JOHN  HAY 

To  which,  amid  great  enthusiasm,  was  sent  this  reply: 

Have  just  received  your  kind  telegram  and  have  read  it  to  the  Americans 
and  French  united  at  this  table.  We  thank  you  warmly  for  your  kind 
words.  Present  our  respectful  homage  to  President  Roosevelt. 

GUILLEMOT 
Mayor  of  Vendome 

Amid  great  applause  Baron  d'Estournelles  de  Constant  made 
an  eloquent  address,  in  conclusion  proposing  the  health  of 
President  Roosevelt;  which  was  drunk  standing  by  the  entire 
assemblage. 

Among  the  other  speakers  were  Marquis  de  Grasse,  Max 
O'Rell  (Paul  Blouet),  M.  Theobold  Chartran,  M.  Louis  Her- 
bette,  M.  James  Hyde,  M.  Jules  Siegfried,  M.  L,azare  Weiller, 
and  Prof.  Leopold  Mabilleau,  the  last  three  dwelling  especially 
upon  their  experiences  during  a  recent  visit  to  the  United  States. 

About  25  Poles,  some  kinsmen  of  Kosciuszko,  representing 
the  "Polish  Kosciuszko  monument  committee,"  being  present, 
through  their  spokesman,  paid  tribute  to  the  career  of  their 
gallant  countryman  in  the  cause  of  liberty  on  two  continents. 

It  was  proposed  to  organize  a  Franco-American  league  to 
cement  and  perpetuate  the  spirit  of  amity  which  exists  between 
the  French  and  American  Republics. 


EVENTS  OF  THE  DAY 


SUNDAY,  MAY  25 


A    MASS    IN    COMMEMORATION  —  AT 

THE  GRAVES  OF  HEROES— ON  A 

TOUR  OF  OBSERVATION— "  LE 

GAULOIS"  EN  VOYAGE 


ITINERARY 

Miles 

o  l,v.  Washington,  D.  C 7.30  p.  m. 


128 


ITINERARY— WASHINGTON  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS 

* 

The  Sabbath  observances  suitably  brought  to  a  close  the 
dramatic  scenes  and  festivities  of  the  week  of  commemoration. 

At  10  o'clock  Ambassador  Cambon,  with  the  members  of  the 
Mission  and  associates,  members  of  the  President's  commission, 
and  many  of  the  Diplomatic  Corps  in  full  uniform,  arriving  at 
the  main  portal  of  St.  Patrick's  Roman  Catholic  Church,  were 
met  by  Reverend  Doctor  Stafford,  the  rector,  and  conducted  to 
front  seats.  The  chancel  was  adorned  with  palms  and  the  altar 
with  hundreds  of  lighted  candles.  A  large  congregation  was 
assembled. 

The  special  service,  arranged  by  order  of  the  rector,  con 
sisted  of  low  mass,  celebrated  by  the  Very  Rev.  Alfonse  Magnien 
D.  D.,  president  of  St.  Mary's  Seminary,  Baltimore,  Md.;  the 
Right  Reverend  Monsignor  Rooker,  of  the  Apostolic  delegation; 
Reverend  Doctor  Chapelle,  of  New  Orleans,  and  other  priests, 
a  score  of  altar  boys  assisting.  During  the  services  the  choir, 
under  the  direction  of  M.  Armand  Gumprecht,  sang  from  the 
celebrated  St.  Cecelia  mass,  which  was  selected  by  the  rector 
as' a.  movement  in  sympathy  with  the  commemorative  and  me 
morial  spirit  of  the  special  .services.  The  ' 4  Kyrie  Eleison ' ' 
formed  an  imposing  overture  to  the  grouping  of  sacred  melody, 
bringing  out  with  excellent  execution  the  tonic  effects  of  this 
masterpiece  of  Gounod's  contributions  to  the  grandeur  of  the 
Roman  ritual.  The  "Gloria  in  Kxcelsis,"  following,  enlisted 
devout  attention,  especially  of  those  in  recognition  of  whom 
the  services  were  arranged.  In  deepest  reverence,  all  knees 
bent,  and  voices  responded  to  the  solemn  intonation  of  the 
"Credo  in  Unum  "  (We  trust  in  one  Almighty  God).  After 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 -9  129 


130  The  Cardinals  Sermon 

the  "Offertory,"  the  "Sanctus,  Sanctus,  Sanctus,  Dominus" 
(Holy,  Holy,  Holy,  Lord  God  Almighty),  afforded  a  suitable 
theme  for  the  delicately  metered  parts,  while  the  ' ' Benedictus ' ' 
and  "Agnus  Dei"  closed  a  most  suitable  rendering  of  the 
musical  numbers  of  the  sacred  celebration. 

CARDINAL'S  SERMON 

The  sermon  preached  by  the  Cardinal  presented  a  thrilling 
retrospect  of  what  France  had  done  for  savage  America,  colo 
nial  France,  and  the  United  States,  from  the  standpoint  of 
exploration,  religion,  and  civilization. 

The  Cardinal  said: 

Sons  of  France,  it  is  meet  and  proper  that  you  should  assemble  in  the 
temple  of  God  to  give  thanks  to  the  Almighty  for  the  great  things  which 
have  been  accomplished  by  your  countrymen  in  this  hemisphere  in  the 
cause  of  religion  and  civilization.  For  over  two  centuries  after  the  discov- 
.ery  of  the  American  continent,  French  missionaries  crossed  the  seas  and 
preached  the  gospel  to  the  aboriginal  inhabitants.  They  carried  the  torch 
of  faith  in  one  hand  and  the  torch  of  civilization  in  the  other.  They 
explored  our  lakes,  our  rivers,  our  mountains,  and  they  gave  evidence 
that  they  were  men  of  science,  as  well  as  men  of  God,  by  the  charts  of 
North  America  which  they  forwarded  to  Europe,  some  of  which  exist  fo 
this  day  and  are  still  regarded  marvels  of  geographical  accuracy. 

But  you  have  come  to  the  capital  of  the  nation  for  the  special  purpose 
of  taking  part  in  the  unveiling  of  the  statue  of  your  illustrious  countryman 
Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  whose  services  in  the  cause  of  American  inde 
pendence  were  so  signal  and  so  conspicuous  that  he  could  truly  say  of 
exploits  accomplished,  "Quorum  pars  Magna  fui." 

Without  detracting  from  the  merits  of  his  brothers  in  arms,  I  can  affirm 
that  ROCHAMBEAU  was  the  flower  of  the  French  allied  army.  Mature  in 
years,  experienced  in  military  campaigns,  a  veteran  of  the  Seven  Years' 
War,  calm,  deliberate,  self-poised,  he  was  a  man  according  to  Washing 
ton's  own  heart  —the  general  on  whose  counsel  and  prudence  he  could 
rely  more  than  on  that  of  any  other  commander. 

When  the  American  troops  under  Washington  and  the  French  forces 
under  ROCHAMBEAU  were  on  the  march  to  Yorktown,  Washington  gal 
lantly  proposed  to  give  the  post  of  distinction  to  the  French  army. 
ROCHAMBEAU  gracefully  declined  the  honor,  and  in  doing  so  he  followed 
the  impulse  of  his  own  heart,  as  well  as  the  general  instructions  he  received 
from  his  Government — that  he  should  always  subordinate  himself  to  the 
American  commander  in  chief. 


Photographic  Remembrance  131 

The  army  of  Cornwallis  was  surrounded  on  land  by  the  French  and 
American  troops,  and  was  prevented  from  escaping  to  sea  by  the  fleet 
of  Admiral  de  Grasse,  which  guarded  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  thus  the 
defeat  of  the  English  commander  was  inevitable  and  he  surrendered  his 
sword  to  Washington.  The  capitulation  of  Cornwallis  was  the  most 
decisive  event  of  the  American  Revolution.  Even  Washington  himself, 
in  a  letter  to  the  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne,  makes  the  aVowal,  "I  need  not 
remind  Your  Excellency  of  the  desperate  condition  of  our  affairs.  With 
out  the  help  of  your  country  we  shall  be  unable  to  expel  the  enemy  or 
continue  the  contest  much  longer." 

May  our  country  never  close  her  eyes  to  these  momentous  facts!  Ma.y 
the  friendship  existing  between  France  and  America— a  friendship  coeval 
with  our  history  as  a  nation,  a  friendship  to  which  we  owe  our  very  exist 
ence  as  an  independent  sovereign  power — may  this  historic  friendship  be 
perpetuated!  May  it  be  strengthened  and  consolidated  by  the  iron  bonds 
of  commerce  and  by  the  golden  links  of  brotherly  love!  May  the  two 
great  Republics  of  the  world  go  hand  in  hand  in  the  march  of  liberty  and 
progress  and  civilization,  and  may  the  monument  erected  to  ROCHAMBEAU 
in  the  capital  of  the  nation  ever  remind  the  American  citizen  who  may 
contemplate  it  of  the  everlasting  debt  of  gratitude  which  the  United  States 
owes  to  France! 

The  service  in  all  its  parts  was  a  most  imposing  and  solemn 
tribute  to  that  Power  on  High  which  measures  and  moves  the 
soul  of  man  and  rules  the  destiny  of  nations. 

During  the  afternoon  numerous  calls  of  etiquette,  official  and 
otherwise,  especially  among  the  members  of  the  Diplomatic 
Corps,  were  made. 

PHOTOGRAPHIC  REMEMBRANCE 

111  the  afternoon,  there  being  no  other  "time  at  their  disposal, 
Ambassador  and  Mme.  Cambon,  General  Brugere,  Admiral 
Fournier,  and  their  aids  called  at  the  White  House.  At  the 
request  of  Major  Bertholet,  the  President  and  military  and 
naval  members  of  the  Mission  repaired  to  the  grounds  south 
of  the  Mansion  and  posed  for  several  groupings,  to  be  taken 
back  to  France  as  a  remembrance  of  their  visit  to  the  United 
States  and  the  hospitality  of  its  President. 

Comte  and  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau  and  Comte  de  Lafayette 
spent  a  few  hours  visiting  Arlington  National  Cemetery  and 
the  United  States  cavalry  post  at  Fort  Myer,  on  the  hills  of 


132  Preparing  for  Departure 

Virginia,  under  escort  of  Captain  Lewis,  Second  United  States 
Cavalry. 

The  visit  was  shortened  by  arrangements  for  departure  on  the 
proposed  tour  later  in  the  day. 

GALLOP   TO   THE    "  ZOO  " 

An  incident  of  the  presence  of  the  Mission  not  soon  to  be 
forgotten  was  an  invitation  from  the  President  to  accompany 
him  and  several  others  on  a  gallop. 

Accordingly  the  party  assembled  in  front  of  the  White  House 
about  4  p.  m. ,  the  French  officers  in  brilliant  array. 

The  personnel  consisted  of  the  President,  his  son  Theodore 
and  daughter  Alice;  Secretary  Root;  Senator  Lodge,  of  Mas 
sachusetts;  General  .Brugere,  Vice- Admiral  Fournier,  General 
Chalendar,  and  Captain  Lasson. 

The  President  with  General  Brugere,  in  advance,  led  the  way 
along  Connecticut  avenue,  over  the  hills  of  Mount  Pleasant,  and 
into  the  picturesque  vale  of  Rock  Creek  and  the  "  Zoo." 

After  enjoying  the  attractions  of  animate  and  inanimate  na 
ture  in  this  haven  of  science  the  party  returned  to  the  White 
House. 

"GAULOIS"  OFF  FOR  NEW  YORK 

At  4  a.  m.,  May  25,  the  battle  ship  Gaulois,  escorted  by  the 
cruiser  Olympia  and  battle  ships  Alabama  and  Kearsarge, 
weighed  anchor  and  sailed  for  New  York.  At  4.20  p.  m.  the 
Gaulois  and  escort  passed  the  Capes  of  Virginia,  and  put  to  sea. 

PREPARING  FOR  DEPARTURE 

A  little  past  7,  after  the  usual  final  arrangements  and 
farewells  between  parting  friends,  the  distinguished  guests,  in 
carriages  or  automobiles,  as  suited  their  fancy,  left  for  the 
station. 

The  party  as  they  drove  up  were  received  by  members  of  the 
President's  commission,  who  were  to  be  companions  of  the 
journey,  and  were  assigned  to  their  places  on  the  special  train. 


TOUR  OF  THE  GUESTS 
ATTENDING  THE  UNVEILING 

OF  THE 
ROCHAMBEAU  MONUMENT 


134 


PARTANT 


At  7.30  p.  m.,  the  hour  scheduled,  the  '  '  ROCHAMBEAU  Spe 
cial"  departed  from  Washington. 

THE  TRAVELERS 
The  following  comprised  the  members  of  the  party: 

GUESTS   OF   THE   NATION 

His  Excellency  M.  Cambon,  the  French  ambassador. 

Her  Excellency  Mme.  Cambon,  the  French  ambassadress. 

General  Brugere,  general  of  division,  vice-president  of  the  supreme 
council  of  war  of  France. 

Vice-Admiral  Fournier,  inspector-general  of  the  navy  of  France. 

Comte  de  Rochambeau. 

Comtesse  de  Rochambeau. 

Comte  Sahune  de  Lafayette. 

M.  Croiset,  member  of  the  French  institute,  dean  of  the  Faculty  of  Letters 
of  Paris. 

General  Chalendar,  commander  of  the  Fourteenth  Infantry  Brigade. 

Captain  de  Surgy,  captain  of  the  armored  cruiser  Gaulois. 

Lieut.  Col.  Meaux  Saint-Marc,  aid-de-camp  and  personal  representative 
of  Emile  Loubet,  President  of  the  French  Republic. 

M.  Lagrave,  representing  the  ministry  of  commerce. 

M.  de  Margerie,  counselor  of  the  French  embassy  at  Washington. 

Mme.  de  Margerie. 

M.  Jean  Guillemin,  subdirector  of  the  cabinet  of  the  foreign  minister. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Hermite,  commander  of  the  Sixth  Foot  Artillery. 

M.  Renouard,  painter  and  engraver,  representing  the  ministry  of  public 
instruction. 

M.  Robert  de  Billy,  secretary  of  embassy. 

Major  Berthelot,  aid-de-camp  to  General  Brugere. 

Captain  Vignal,  military  attache"  to  the  French  embassy  at  Washington. 

135 


136  Part  ant 

Mnie.  Vignal. 

.  Lieutenant  Comte  de  Faramond,  naval  attache  to  the  French  embassy 
at  Washington. 
-  M.  Jules  Boeufve,  chancellor  of  the  French  embassy  at  Washington. 

Lieut.  Andre  Sauvaire-Jourdan,  aid-de-camp  to  Vice- Admiral  Fournier. 

Lieut.  Gustave  le  Jay,  aid-de-camp  to  Vice- Admiral  Fournier. 

Lieut.  Baron  Maximilien  de  Reinach  de  Werth,  aid-de-camp  to  Vice- 
Admiral  Fournier. 

Capt.  Pouilloiie  de  Saint-Mars,  captain  of  artillery. 

Capt.  Etienne  Filloneau,  aid-de-camp  to  General  Brugere. 

Captain  Lasson,  attache"  of  the  general  staff  of  the  governor  of  Paris. 

Vicomte  de  Chambrun,  attache  of  the  French  embassy  at  Berlin. 

REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE  PRESIDENT 

Mr.  Herbert  H.  D.  Peirce,  Third  Assistant  Secretary  of  State,  chairman 
of  the  President's  commission. 
Mrs.  Herbert  H.  D.  Peirce. 
Col.  Theodore  A.  Bingham,  U.  S.  Army. 
Commander  Raymond  P.  Rodgers,  U.  S.  Navy. 
Mr.  Edwin  Morgan,  secretary  to  the  President's  commission. 


EVENTS  OF  THE"  DAY 

MONDAY,  MAY  26 


NIAGARA  FALLS—  THE  "GAULOIS"  AT 
NEW  YORK 


ITINERARY 

Ar.  Buffalo,  N.  Y 8.00  a.  in. 

I<v.  Buffalo,  N.  Y.   . 8.10  a.  m. 

.     .     .     .  9.00  a.  m. 


Miles 
440 
o 
22    Ar.  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y. 


Carriage  drive  in  forenoon,  terminating  at 
special  train,  which  was  conveniently  side 
tracked  to  serve  lunch  in  dining  car.  Trip 
over  Great  Gorge  route  in  the  afternoon  to 
Iyewiston  and  return. 

o  I,v.  Niagara  Falls,  ,N.  Y 4.00  p.  m. 

22  Ar.  Buffalo,  N.  Y 4.50  p.  m. 

o    L,v.  Buffalo,  N.  Y 5.00  p.  m. 


138 


NIAGARA 

* 

The  ROCHAMBEAU  Mission  reached  Buffalo  on  schedule  time 
after  an  uneventful  run  of  twelve  and  one-half  hours  from 
Washington.  The  party  breakfasting  on  the  train,  reached 
the  Falls  at  9. 30  a.m.  Here  they  left  their  coaches,  entering 
carriages  for  a  drive  of  several  hours  through  the  park  on  the 
American  and  across  the  bridge  to  the  Canadian  side.  Upon 
reaching  Table  Rock  there  was  a  halt  to  afford  the  visitors  time 
to  stroll  about  and  enjoy  this  wonderful  object  of  nature. 

Reentering  their  carriages  they  returned  to  their  train  for 
luncheon.  During  this  intermission  the  mayor  made  a  formal 
call  and  extended  the  freedom  of  the  city. 

At  1.15  p.  m.  two  special  cars  were  run  into  the  station  and 
boarded  by  the  party  for  a  trip  over  the  stretch  of  sublime  scen 
ery,  making  stops  at  the  Whirlpool  Rapids,  Lewiston,  and  across 
the  new  bridge  to  the  British  side.  General  Brugere,  General 
Chalendar,  and  the  other  military  members  of  the  group  were 
greatly  interested  in  an  account  of  the  battle  of  Queenstown 
Heights,  of  the  war  of  1812,  which  was  given  them  from  the  foot 
of  the  towering  column  which  marks  the  spot  where  the  Brit 
ish  General  Brock  was  killed.  Continuing  through  the  gorge 
along  the  scenic  railway,  they  recrossed  into  American  territory 
by  the  upper  steel  bridge,  reaching  the  station  at  3.45  p.m.  In 
their  tour  Major  Berthelot  and  others  were  busy  with  their 
cameras  and  M.  Renouard  with  his  pencil  and  pad. 

Among  the  pleasing  incidents  of  the  day  was  the  presentation 
on  behalf  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  of  St.  Mary's  convent,  by  a 
bevy  of  young  girls  arrayed  in  white,  to  Comtesse  de  Rocham- 
beau,  of  a  large  bouquet  of  carnations  and  American  Beauty 

139 


140  At  Niagara 

roses  held  by  red,  white,  and  blue  ribbon,  and  attached  to  a 
small  silk  American  flag. 

The  Comtesse  manifested  particular  delight  and  thanked  the 
young  ladies  for  their  remembrance. 

After  a  day  of  unmistakable  enjoyment  the  party  left  at 
5  p.  m.,  bound  eastward  via  Emporium  Junction,  Harrisburg,  and 
Philadelphia  to  Jersey  City,  thence  to  West  Point. 

ARRIVAL,  OF  THE  ' '  GAULOIS  "  AND    HER   ESCORT   AT    NEW  YORK 

While  the  travelers  were  beholding  the  sublimity  of  Niagara 
the  Gaulois  was  entering  the  harbor  of  New  York. 

On  the  26th,  about  an  hour  before  noon,  the  cruiser  and  the 
escorting  squadron  entered  New  York  Bay.  Approaching 
Battery  Park,  the  Gaulois  leading,  the  Olympia  flying  the  rear- 
admiral's  pennant,  the  Alabama  floating  the  flag  of  the  Assistant 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  and  the  Kearsarge  following,  in  single 
file,  the  scene  was  particularly  striking,  the  vessels  being 
greeted  with  the  blowing  of  steam  sirens.  Coming  abreast 
of  Governors  Island  the  first  gun  in  salute  came  from  Castle 
William,  answered  by  a  hull  gun  from  the  Gaulois,  a  second 
from  the  battery,  a  response  from  the  deck  of  the  cruiser,  a 
third  from  the  shore,  an  answer/  from  the  military  top,  and 
thus  alternating,  gun  for  gun,  through  the  resounding  honors. 
The  towns  and  villages  which  formed  the  perimeter  of  the 
lower  bay  presented  a  forest  of  flags.  Particularly  in  evidence 
were  the  ' '  Stars  and  Stripes ' '  broadly  floating  from  the  towering 
sky  scrapers  in  the  great  city  of  New  York. 

Proceeding  up  the  North  River  the  squadron  dropped  anchor 
'  off  West  Thirty-fourth  street.  As  the  anchor  of  the  Frenchman 
went  overboard  the  bands  of  the  American  ships  played  the 
French  national  air. 

No  sooner  had  the  vessels  made  fast  than  launches  were 
lowered  and  visits  of  ceremony  began. 

A  short  time  after  the  dispatch  boat  Dolphin  passed  the 
squadron,  bound  for  West  Point,  to  convey  the  official  and 
unofficial  "guests"  to  New  York  the  next  day. 


EVENTS  OF  THE  DAY 

TUESDAY, 


MILITARY  HONORS  AND  A  CADET 
REVIEW— METROPOLITAN  MUNICIPAL 
FELICITATIONS-  "EMPIRE  STATE" 
GUARD  ON  DRESS  PARADE— SOCIETY 
OF  THE  CINCINNATI  REMEMBERS 
ROCHAMBEAU 


ITINERARY 
Miles 

507    Ar.  Jersey  City,  N.  J 7.103.  m. 

o    I/v.  Jersey  City,  N.  J 7.25  a.  m. 

53    Ar.  West  Point,  N.  Y 8.50  a.  m. 

Party  returned  to  New  York  on  the  U.  S.  S. 
Dolphin,  leaving  n  a.  m.,  arriving  at  New 
York  City  3  p.  m.  Train  released  at  West 
Point  and  returned  to  Jersey  City. 


142 


AT  WEST  POINT— A  CADET  REVIEW 


At  8.50  a.  m.  the  ROCHAMBEAU  Mission  special  train  deliv 
ered  its  distinguished  visitors  at  West  Point.  The  great  guns 
made  the  historic  hills  reverberate  lively  enough  to  make  the 
guns  of  old  seem  playthings  in  comparison. 

In  conformity  with  the  circular  of  arrangements  and  general 
orders  issued  by  Col.  A.  L.  Mills,  Superintendent  of  the  Acad 
emy,  the  "French  ambassador  and  the  distinguished  gentle 
men  composing  the  Mission  of  the  Government  of  France  ' ' 
were  received  at  the  railroad  station  by  the  Superintendent  and 
military  and  academic  staff  at  9  a.  m.,  the  United  States  Mili 
tary  Academy  detachment  of  cavalry  acting  as  escort. 

Upon  their  arrival  a  salute  of  19  guns  was  fired.  The  dis 
tinguished  party  was  conducted  by  way  of  the  library,  in  front 
of  the  cadet  barracks  and  gymnasium,  to  the  Superintendent's 
quarters. 

As  the  escort  reached  the  plain  another  salute  of  the  same 
number  of  guns  was  given. 

The  battalion  of  cadets,  in  full-dress  uniform,  was  drawn  up 
on  the  walk  at  cadet  barracks,  the  band  at  the  clock  tower,  and 
the  left  of  the  battalion  toward  the  gymnasium. 

The  battalion  was  immediately  paraded  on  the  plain  for 
inspection  and  review. 

After  the  review  the  party  was  attended  to  the  Superintend 
ent 's  quarters  for  refreshments,  after  which  they  walked  to  the 
gymnasium,  where  there  was  a  short  drill. 

Thence  they  proceeded  to  the  cadet  barracks,  the  academic 
building,  chapel,  library,  and  memorial  hall.  At  the  latter 


144  Landing  in  New   York  City 

point  the  visitors  and  the  officers  attending  them,  escorted  by 
the  cavalry,  droVe  to  the  south  dock  by  way  of  Fort  Clinton, 
the  hotel,  Battle  Monument,  and  Superintendent's  quarters. 

In  honor  of  the  occasion  academic  duties  were  suspended 
until  2  p.  m.  Cavalry  exercises  of  the  first  class  and  instruc 
tion  of  the  fourth  class  in  fencing  and  gymnastics  were  also 
suspended. 

A  heavy  downpour  of  rain  unfortunately  greatly  marred  the 
spectacular  features  of  the  scene,  the  cadets  at  the  time  being  in 
formation  for  review. 

.  The  military  and  naval  members  of  the  party,  especially,  dis 
played  the  greatest  interest.  The  graduating  class  stepped 
from  the  ranks  and  saluted.  Comte  de  Rochambeau,  through 
an  interpreter,  said  a  few  complimentary  words. 

From  the  review  the  party  passed  to  the  gymnasium,  where 
the  fourth-class  men  gave  an  exhibition  of  military  gymnastics 
which  drew  forth  great  applause. 

The  party  were  then  shown  through  the  academic  building, 
barracks,  memorial  hall,  and  chapel. 

The  British  and  Hessian  colors,  taken  at  Yorktown  and  pre 
served  in  a  case,  greatly  interested  Count  de  Rochambeau.  These 
colors  were  presented  by  Congress  to  Washington.  Washington 
himself  on  the  field,  with  the  later  approval  of  Congress,  pre 
sented  to  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBKAU  and  Comte  de  Grasse  each 
two  cannon  taken  at  the  British  surrender. 

Before  leaving,  General  Brugere  and  Count  de  Rochambeau 
again  addressed  the  corps  in  most  laudatory  terms  and  bade 
them  farewell. 

At  the  wharf  the  party,  after  many  expressions  of  apprecia 
tion  of  their  entertainment,  and  of  compliment  for  the  institu 
tion,  boarded  the  Dolphin  and  steamed  away. 

LANDING  IN   NEW   YORK   CITY   AMID    FIRING  OF   GUNS 

At  3.30  p.  m.  the  Dolphin  dropped  anchor  off  the  Battery. 
The  rain  in  the  Catskills  in  the  morning  extended  to  the 
metropolis  in  the  afternoon.  As  the  guests  left  the  steamer 
in  launches,  salutes  were  fired  in  their  honor.  As  they  stepped 


Escorted  to  the  City  Hall  145 

ashore  at  the  stone  pier  near  the  United  States  barge  office 
they  were  met  by  Mr.  James  B.  Reynolds,  secretary  to  the 
mayor;  Major  Greer,  of  General  Roe's  staff,  and  Mr.  Willett, 
chairman  of  the  aldermanic  committee.  Notwithstanding  the 
rain,  a  great  crowd  had  gathered  in  Battery  Park  within  the 
police  limits.  Drawn  up  in  double  lines  in  front  of  the  barge 
office  were  about  100  seamen  of  the  Gaulois  and  about  TOO 
each  from  the  Alabama  and  Kearsarge,  landed  for  the  occasion. 
Carriages  were  in  waiting  for  the  guests.  A  troop  of  Squadron 
A  occupied  a  position  east  of  the  United  States  sailors. 

At  4  p.  m.  the  guests,  headed  by  M.  Cambon,  the  French 
ambassador;  Vice- Admiral  Fournier,  General  Brugere,  and 
Comte  de  Rochambeau,  were  received  by  Mr.  Reynolds  and 
directed  to  their  carriages  in  this  order: 

First  carriage,  Ambassador  Cambon  and  Assistant  Secretary 
of  State  Herbert  H.  D.  Peirce,  chairman  President  commission, 
with  Mr.  Reynolds;  then  following  General  Brugere,  Colonel 
Bingham,  Major  Berthelot,  and  Captain  Filloneau;  Vice- Admiral 
Fournier,  Commander  Rodgers,  Lieutenant  Sauvaire-Jourdan, 
and  Lieutenant  le  Jay;  Professor  Croiset,  General  Chalendar, 
Captain  Vignal;  Count  de  Rochambeau,  Count  Sahune  de 
Lafayette;  Captain  de  Surgy,  Lieut.  Col.  Meaux  Saint-Marc, 
Lieutenant  Count  de  Faramond,  Lieut.  Baron  Maximilian  de 
Reinach  de  Werth;  M.  Lagrave,  M.  Guillemin,  Louis  Hermite, 
Lieutenant- Colonel  Hermite;  M.  Renouard,  M.  de  Billy,  Cap 
tain  Lasson,  Captain  de  Saint- Mars;  Vicomte  de  Chambrun, 
M.  Boeufve. 

The  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau,  who  was  to  accompany  her 
husband,  remained  on  the  Dolphin,  but  later  landed  and 

witnessed  the  review. 

• 

ESCORTED   TO   THE    CITY   HAIyl^ 

A  few  minutes  after  4  o'clock,  as  the  first  carriage  entered 

the  line,  the  sailors  came  to  attention;  the  colors  dipping,  the 

French  officers  saluting,  and  civilians  touching  their  hats.     The 

troopers  of  Squadron  A  wheeled  into  column  of  fours  in  front 

S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 10 


146  Received  by  the  Mayor 

of  the  first  carriage  ahd  the  march  up  Broadway  began.  The 
band  of  the  American  sailors  struck  up  a  martial  strain, 
followed  by  a  quickstep  by  the  bugles  and  drums  of  the  French, 
with  the  full  accompaniment  of  their  band.  Along  the  great 
thoroughfare — on  sidewalks  and  in  windows  and  buildings 
lavishly  decorated — were  thousands  of  people  waving  and 
cheering.  The  scene  was  metropolitan  in  all  respects,  and  so 
impressed  the  guests. 

RECEIVED    BY   THE   MAYOR 

It  was  4.20  p.  m.  when  the  guests  reached  the  City  Hall  and 
entered. 

Under  instructions  from  headquarters,  the  guests  were 
accorded  the  freedom  of  the  city.  A  detail  of  500  patrolmen 
kept  the  route  of  march  and  the  park  clear  of  the  crowd. 

The  visitors  were  immediately  conducted  to  the  mayor's 
private  office  by  Secretary  Reynolds,  from  whence,  the  Secretary 
leading  with  the  French  ambassador,  the  entire  personnel  fol 
lowing,  they  proceeded  to  the  governor's  room,  where  the 
mayor  was  in  readiness  to  receive  them.  He  was  surrounded 
by  a  number  of  friends,  among  whom  were  Gen.  Horace  Porter, 
ambassador  to  France;  Cornelius  N.  Bliss,  former  Secretary  of 
the  Interior;  Robert  A.  Van  Wyck,  former  mayor  of  New  York- 
Philip  Rhinelander;  Commissioners  Folks,  Wilcox,  Lederle, 
and  Hawkes,  and  Comptroller  Grout,  and  others. 

After  the  usual  salutations  and  handshaking,  the  mayor  said, 
"I  am  glad  to  welcome  you  here."  To  which  the  French 
ambassador  made  acknowledgment  and,  turning,  presented 
General  Brugere.  After  an  exchange  of  compliments,  in 
French,  the  General  introduced  the  rest  of  his  ^  country  men, 
at  the  conclusion  of  which  the  mayor  said: 

Mr.  Ambassador,  I  take  great  pleasure  in  presenting  to  you  prominent 
citizens  of  this  city — ex-mayors,  officers  of  the  city  government,  and  others — 
who  have  kindly  consented  to  serve  on  the  honorary  committee  to  bid 
you  welcome.  The  aldermanic  committee  will  shortly  wait  upon  us  and 
invite  you  to  their  council  chamber,  where  I  will  welcome  you  in  the  name 
of  the  city. 


Received  by  the  Mayor  147 

FORMALITIES    AND    SPEECHES 

During  a  brief  interim  the  mayor  brought  to  the  notice  of 
the  visitors  near  him  a  writing  table,  observing  that  it  was  used 
by  Washington  while  President  of  the  United  States.  The 
ambassador,  General  Brugere,  and  associates  examined  it  with 
the  deepest  interest. 

The  aldermanic  committee,  having  notified  the  mayor  that 
the  board  was  in  readiness  to  receive  the  visitors,  they  were 
presented  to  the  French  ambassador  with  the  formal  remark: 

Mr.  Ambassador,  may  I  present  to  you  the  aldermanic  committee  who 
have  been  appointed  to  ask  you  to  the  aldermanic  chamber?  May  I 
present  to  you  the  chairman  of  their  committee,  Alderman  Willett? 

The  entire  group,  led  by  the  committee,  Mayor  Low  escort 
ing  the  French  ambassador  and  Colonel  Bingham  General  Bru 
gere,  the  rest  following  in  order,  moved  toward  the  chamber. 
As  they  entered  the  members  of  the  board  rose  in  place.  The 
chairman,  Alderman  Willett,  said: 

Mr.  President,  I  have  the  honor  to  announce  the  presence  of  the  distin 
guished  delegation  from  France  now  in  this  country  to  participate  in  the 
ceremonies  attending  the  unveiling  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  statue. 

The  president,  Mr.  Fornes,  in  welcoming  the  visitors,  said: 

I  deem  it  a  great  privilege  and  honor  to  tender,  on  behalf  of  the  board 
of  aldermen,  to  you,  Mr.  Ambassador,  Count  de  Rochambeau,  and  your 
associates,  representing  the  Republic  of  France,  a  most  cordial  welcome 
to  the  legislative  hall  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and  also  to  express  our 
high  appreciation  of  the  honor  your  presence  confers  upon  us. 

The  noble,  historic  event  which  your  sojourn  in  our  country  commemo 
rates  awakens  a  precious  memory  of  the  heroic  deeds  of  your  kindred  and 
countrymen  in  the  establishment  of  a  republican  form  of  government,  where 
the  only  sovereign  is  the  will  of  a  majority  of  its  citizens.  We,  represent 
atives  of  the  city  of  New  York,  express  in  its  behalf  the  hope  of  an  endur 
ing  friendship  between  the  citizens  of  our  beloved  countries,  so  that  as 
the  governments  create  histories  the  brightest  pages  thereof  will  record 
the  blessings  and  prosperity  of  the  French  and  American  Republics. 

May  the  same  noble  spirit  which  prompted  the  valiant  Marshal  RO 
CHAMBEAU  and  his  loyal  comrades  ever  be  alive  in  the  birth,  growth,  and 
stability  of  republican  forms  of  government,  and  the  entwined  flags  of 
France  and  the  United  States,  reminding  us  of  the  union  of  heart  and 


148  Received  by  the  Mayor 

hand  of  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU,  be  typical  of  the  bond  of  friend 
ship  and  good  will  between  the  young  and  vigorous  Republic  of  the  Old 
and  the  powerful  and  progressive  Republic  of  the  New  World. 

We  trust  your  visit  to  the  nation  your  kindred  so  materially  helped  to 
inaugurate  in  a  career  of  greatness  will  ever  be  the  cause  of  pleasant 
mutual  recollections. 

The  French  ambassador  was  then  escorted  to  a  seat  on  the 
right  and  General  Brugere  on  the  left  of  the  president.  The 
rest  of  the  visitors  were  seated  on  the  right  of  the  chamber. 

The  mayor,  rising,  said: 

Mr.  Ambassador,  and  gentlemen  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  Mission,  who  so 
worthily  represent  the  Republic  of  France:  The  mayor  of  the  city  of  New 
York  carries  on  his  official  business  ill  the  presence  of  the  portrait  of  La 
fayette,  who  represents  to  us  Americans  the  generous  ardor  of  the  French 
people  for  the  ideals  of  political  liberty.  The  representatives  of  New 
York  are  glad  to  have  the  opportunity  to-day,  in  greeting  your  distin 
guished  delegation,  to  acknowledge  the  services  to  this  city  of  the  French 
nation  through  the  cooperation  of  the  regular  army  and  navy  with  the 
forces  of  the  American  colonies.  The  decisive  battle  resulting  from  this 
cooperation  was  fought  at  Yorktown,  upon  the  soil  of  Virginia;  but  it  ush 
ered  in  the  historic  scene  of  Fraunce's  Tavern  in  this  city,  where  Washing 
ton  bade  farewell  to  the  officers  who  had  been  his  comrades  in  arms  at  the 
end  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  This  fortunate  result  was  directly  due  to 
the  cooperation  of  France;  but  even  the  service  of  the  volunteer  Lafayette, 
and  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  De  Grasse  of  the  French  army  and  navy  do  not 
comprise  all  that  we  owe  to  the  generous  nation  whom  you  represent. 
You  freely  supplied  the  American  forces  with  the  sinews  of  war,  and 
your  help  in  another  form  has  made  the  French  name  of  Le  Bon  Homme 
Richard  as  familiar  in  our  ears  as  Yorktown  itself.  [Applause.] 

These  things  we,  of  the  city  of  New  York,  hold  in  grateful  remembrance, 
but  we  do  not  forget  that  France  itself  has  interpreted  their  permanent 
significance  in  the  statue  that  the  French  people  have  placed  in  our  beau 
tiful  harbor,  of  "  Liberty  enlightening  the  world."  This  is  the  deep  and 
eternal  purpose  of  liberty,  that  it  should  throw  light  upon  the  path  that 
civilization  itself  must  follow  with  the  procession  of  the  suns. 

We  of  America  do  not  owe  more  to  France  in  the  domain  of  political 
liberty  than  we  owe  to  her  in  the  fine  example  she  sets  of  freedom  in  the 
domain  of  art.  Science  to-day  in  all  lands  is  happily  free,  but  the  whole 
world  goes  to  the  French  school  of  the  beautiful  arts,  because  under  the 
free  sky  of  liberty  in  the  realm  of  art  the  art  of  France  has  become  the 
teacher  of  the  nations.  For  these  reasons  and  many  others  that  might  be 
told,  I  have  the  honor  to  welcome  you  in  the  name  of  the  city  of  New 
York  to  our  beloved  city.  [Applause.] 


Reply  of  the  French  Ambassador          149 

The  clerk  then  read  the  following  resolution,  adopted  by  the 
board  April  29: 

Resolved,  That  we,  the  members  of  the  board  of  aldermen,  voicing  the 
deeply  felt  sentiment  of  the  people  of  New  York,  tender  our  most  cordial 
welcome  to  the  representatives  of  the  French  Government  and  people  on 
their  arrival  on  our  shores,  and  respectfully  request  his  honor  the  mayor 
to  appoint  a  committee  to  show  our  distinguished  visitors  all  the  courte 
sies  possible  during  their  stay  among  us. 

The  French  ambassador  was  warmly  applauded  as  he  arose 
to  reply  to  the  welcome  of  the  mayor.  Couching  his  happy 
response  in  English,  he  said: 

Mr.  Chairman,  Mr.  Mayor,  and  gentlemen,  representatives  of  the  city 
Of  New  York:  I  thank  you  very  much  for  this  kind,  generous,  and 
splendid  reception  which  you  have  given  to  my  countrymen,  the  mem 
bers  of  the  French  Mission.  The  President  of  the  French  Republic 
has  sent  you  the  most  distinguished  representatives  of  the  French  army, 
of  the  French  navy,  of  French  science,  and  of  French  commerce,  and  also 
of  our  art,  because  we  know  that  France  is  represented  among  you,  not 
only  by  the  army  and  the  navy,  but  also  by  the  commerce,  the  arts,  and 
the  sciences.  We  would  be  very  glad  if  we  could  live  always  with  you  in 
America.  We  are  very  glad  to  have  the  honor  to  know  you,  these  dis 
tinguished  persons  wrhom  we  have  met  in  America.  You  know  the  more 
we  are  in  America  the  better  we  like  it.  [Applause.] 

I  am  sure  that  my  countrymen  when  they  get  back  to  France  will  say 
to  their  countrymen  that  Americans  are  the  finest  people  they  know. 
This  ceremony  of  unveiling  the  statue  of  ROCHAMBEAU  is  a  remem 
brance  of  the  nations  and  of  the  friendship  which  always  existed  between 
Washington,  Lafayette,  and  ROCHAMBEAU,  and  these  ceremonies  will  act 
as  a  remembrance  to  the  sons  of  France  and  America  that  the  sons  of 
ROCHAMBEAU  and  Washington — the  citizens  of  the  United  States  and 
of  France— are  also  as  ROCHAMBEAU  and  Washington  were,  the  firmest 
and  best  friends  in  everything,  in  every  way,  and  for  all  time. 

The  visitors  then  withdrew  to  the  governor's  room,  the  alder 
men  rising  and  applauding. 

The  entire  party,  preceded  by  the  mayor,  Ambassador  Catn- 
bon,  and  General  Brugere,  followed  by  the  members  of  the 
Mission  and  invited  friends,  left  the  building;  Mayor  Low, 
General  Brugere,  General  Chalendar,  and  Colonel  Bingham 
occupying  the  first  carriage,  the  rest  coming  after. 

With  their  escort  they  proceeded  up  Broadway  to  the  review 
ing. stand  at  the  Worth  Monument. 


150  Grand  Parade  and  Review 

THE  GUARD  IN  PARADE  AND  REVIEW 

The  inhabitants  of  the  associated  boroughs  of  Manhattan, 
Bronx,  Brooklyn,  Queens,  and  Richmond,  now  grown  to  the 
magnitude  of  the  second  greatest  city  on  earth,  were  prepared  to 
make  amends  for  the  discourtesy  of  a  foreign  foe  refusing  admit 
tance  to  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU  on  several  occasions, 
when  in  former  days  they  had  combined  upon  a  call. 

The  ancient  Battery  and  Castle  William  were  a  waving  con 
stellation  of  Stars  and  Stripes,  where  then  the ' '  I^ion  and  unicorn, ' ' 
standard  of  King  George,  floated  in  oppression  of  the  liberties  of 
the  people. 

The  great  city  itself  was  en  fete  in  ready  response  to  the 
proclamation  of  the  mayor  announcing: 

To  the  people  of  the  city  of  New  York:  The  distinguished,  members  of  the 
ROCHAMBEAU  Mission,  appointed  to  represent  the  Republic  of  France  at  the 
unveiling  in  Washington  of  the  statue  of  the  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  our 
Revolutionary  ally,  will  arrive  in  New  York  on  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday, 
May  27,  at  3.30  o'clock,  and  will  remain  here  until  Thursday  night,  May  29. 
During  this  interval  citizens  are  asked  to  display  their  flags  freely  in  cour 
teous  recognition  of  the  visit  of  the  nation's  guests,  who  are  themselves  so 
heartily  welcomed  to  New  York. 

The  arteries  of  trade  and  transit  were  a  waving  mass  of  the 
colors  of  the  two  Republics.  The  city  hall,  the  objective  of 
municipal  greeting,  was  the  scene  of  a  patriotic  display  of  Empire 
State  and  national  federated  emblems.  Flags,  pennants,  and 
streamers  waved  brightly  and  defiantly  from  a  forest  of  staffs.  . 

During  the  ceremonies  the  troops,  including  all  the  New  York 
and  Brooklyn  regiments,  were  forming  at  the  lower  end  of  the 
great  thoroughfare  for  martial  display.  Hundreds  of  thousands 
of  men  and  women  of  all  conditions  in  life  thronged  the  side 
walks  and  crowded  the  windows  to  witness  the  warlike  pageant. 

As  the  cortege  and  its  troop  and  sailor  escort  of  two  nations 
passed  to  the  scene  of  review,  the  regiments  which  lined  the 
route  between  the  city  hall  and  the  Worth  Monument  succes 
sively  stood  at  "present."  The  vast  crowds  cheered  vocifer 
ously  and  made  other  manifestation  of  greeting  and  good  will. 
Traffic  was  suspended  and  the  wray  was  open  to  the  full  per 
fection  of  the  spectacular  features  of  the  occasion. 


Grand  Parade  and  Review  151 

It  was  6  p.  m.  when  the  detachments  from  the  American 
and  French  war  ships  took  their  position  in  double  lines  oppo 
site  the  reviewing  stand.  Close  by  were  drawn  up  the  Veteran 
Artillery  of  the  War  of  1812,  in  the  uniform  of  their  organiza 
tion  in  that  conflict. 

The  shouts  of  command,  .swinging  of  arms  in  position  of 
salutation,  roll  of  drums,  blare  of  bugles,  and  melody  of  bands 
gave  signal  of  the  arrival  of  the  chief  officer  and  distinguished 
guests  of  the  city. 

The  mayor,  French  ambassador,  and  chief  representatives  of 
"  the  Government  and  people  of  France,"  surrounded  by  their 
military,  naval,  and  civil  associates,  stepping  to  the  front 
beneath  a  canopy  of  military  design,  the  order  ''Forward" 
was  given. 

At  6. 20  p.  m.  Major-General  Roe  and  staff,  followed  by 
Squadron  A  and  Troop  C,  passed  the  stand,  the  squadron's 
band  playing  "  Le  Marsellaise, "  to  which  the  French  officers 
saluted.  Owing  to  a  sad  accident  in  the  collapse  of  the  plat 
form  at  Eighteenth  street  and  Fifth  avenue  there  intervened  a 
considerable  gap  before  the  Twenty-second  Regiment  swung 
by,  followed  by  the  Thirteenth  Infantry,  Third  Artillery  with 
rapid  fire  guns,  and  the  First  Artillery  with  improved  field  pieces. 
The  French  officers  displayed  great  interest,  passing  many 
comments  upon  the  science,  art,  and  machinery  of  modern  gun 
nery.  General  McLeer,  at  the  head  of  the  Second  Signal  Corps, 
was  followed  by  the  Forty-seventh,  Twenty-third,  and  Four 
teenth  regiments  from  Brooklyn. 

"The  Twenty-third  came  in  for  great  applause  from  the  French 
officers,  who  admired  the  precision  of  its  movements.  They 
were  even  more  enthusiastic  when  informed  it  was  the  crack 
regiment  of  Brooklyn  and  the  rival  of  the  Seventh  of  New  York. 

After  the  First  Signal  Corps  had  passed,  led  by  General  Smith, 
came  the  Seventh  Regiment.  Again  there  was  great  applause 
among  the  foreign  officers,  as  the  reputation  of  this  celebrated 
military  organization  was  known  to  them.  The  regimental 
band  was  also  loudly  cheered. 


152          Society  of  the  Cincinnati  Entertains 

The  renowned  Sixty-ninth  immediately  after  was  hailed  to 
the  echo,  its  band  playing  "Le  Marsellai.se."  A  voice  on  the 
stand  shouting  "Three  cheers  for  the  Irish,"  created  a  spirit  of 
merriment  and  a  still  louder  volume  of  applause. 

The  Eighth,  Ninth,  and  Twelfth  regiments,  which  made  a 
fine  appearance,  were  much  admired  by  the  foreign  experts. 

The  Seventy-first  Regiment  in  passing  was  the  signal  of 
cheering  on  a  tremendous  scale,  its  fame  being  known  to  the 
foreign  officers.  The  men  having  lost  their  uniforms  in  the 
destruction  of  their  armory  were  in  blue  flannel  shirts,  khaki 
trousers,  leggings,  and  campaign  hats,  somewhat  in  contrast  to 
the  other  spick  and  span  organizations.  The  French  officers 
joined  energetically  in  the  applause  of  the  Seventy-first,  re 
marking  the  men  looked  more  like  United  States  Regulars  than 
volunteers. 

The  Naval  Militia,  which  closed  the  parade,  passed  the  stand 
at  7.20  p.  m.  The  number  of  the  city's  troops  in  review  was 
8,500. 

The  mayor  and  distinguished  visitors  at  once  returned  to 
their  carriages  and  left  the  scene  of  such  unmistakable  welcome, 
while  the  police  held  the  great  mass  of  spectators  in  restraint. 

The  French  and^American  sailors  marched  to  the  river  front, 
and  by  8  o'clock  were  being  towed  in  launches  across  the  water 
to  their  ships. 

After  the  review  the  mayor  made  a  formal  call  upon  the 
French  ambassador,  the  members  of  the  Mission,  and  guests  at 
their  hotel. 

SOCIETY   OF   THE    CINCINNATI   ENTERTAINS 

In  the  evening  the  Astor  Gallery  of  the  Waldorf-Astoria 
was  the  scene  of  a  sumptuous  banquet,  by  the  Military  Order  of 
the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  in  honor  of  the  Mission  and  the 
representatives  of  the  families  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  Lafayette, 
both  original  names  on  the  roll  of  the  organization. 

The  great  banquet  hall  was  appropriately  decorated.  Over 
the  seat  of  the  toastmaster  was  the  shield  of  the  society  in  pale 
blue  and  white,  with  the  Stars  and  Stripes  on  either  side.  The 


Society  of  the  Cincinnati  Entertains         153 

walls  were  adorned  with  silk  banners,  bearing  the  fleur-de-lis 
of  France  in  gold  and  the  American  flags  in  use  before  the 
adoption  of  the  present  national  emblem. 

The  guests  consisted  of  the  members  of  the  French  embassy, 
Mission  and  civil  associates,  and  commander  of  the  Gaulois,  the 
President's  commission,  admiral  and  commanders  of  ships  of 
the  North  Atlantic  Squadron  escorting  the  Gaidois,  Ambas 
sador  Porter,  the  officers  of  the  United  States  Army  and  Navy 
commanding  in  the  military  department,  at  West  Point,  and  in 
New  York  waters,  major-general  commanding  the  National 
Guard  of  New  York,  and  the  escort  of  the  day.  The  military 
and  naval  officers  were  in  full  uniform,  and  diplomats  and  mem 
bers  of  the  order  wore  their  official  ribbons  and  decorations. 
These,  about  125  in  number,  were  seated  around  an  oval  table 
richly  appointed  and  abloom  with  banks  of  red  peonies,  varied 
with  intermingling  cherry  and  apple  blossoms  and  standards  of 
American  Beauty  roses. 

The  posts  of  honor  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  chairman, 
Nicholas  Fish,  were  held,  respectively,  by  Ambassador  Cambon 
and  Ambassador  Porter  and  General  Brugere,  Vice- Admiral 
Fournier,  and  Col.  Theodore  A.  Bingham,  U.  S.  Army,  of  the 
President's  commission. 

At  the  opening,  the  toastmaster  called  on  Ambassador  Porter 
for  a  response  to  the  toast,  "The  President  of  the  United 
States. ' '  His  speech  bristled  with  points  pertinent  and  periods 
persuasive.  President  Roosevelt  was  extolled  as  a  man  of 
conviction,  backed  by  courage,  who  "marked  the  hours  while 
others  sounded  them."  He  alluded  to  President  McKinley  as 
' '  one  of  the  noblest  in  the  line  of  Presidents, ' '  and  spoke  feel 
ingly  of  the  universal  expressions  of  sympathy  and  condolence 
from  prince  and  peasant  upon  the  sad  tidings  of  his  tragic  death. 
His  encomium  upon  the  members  of  the  embassy  and  the  Mis 
sion,  the  men  on  the  bridge  and  deck  of  the  Gaulois,  and  upon 
' '  the  memory  and  descendants  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  L,afayette ' ' 
elicited  tumultuous  aTpplause.  In  reference  to  the  Mission,  he 
mentioned  it  as  second  to  none  ever  sent  abroad  by  the  French 
Republic. 


154         "Society  of  the  Cincinnati  Entertains 

To  the  toast,  "The  President  of  the  French  Republic," 
Ambassador  Cambon,  in  a  spirited  vein,  alluded  to  President 
Roosevelt  as  a  man  of  marvelous  energy,  unmistakable 
goodness  of  heart,  breadth  of  character,  soundness  of  learning, 
comprehensiveness  of  intelligence,  and  gallantry  in  the  field. 
The  best  ends  of  civilization  and  humanity,  he  declared,  could 
not  be  better  advanced  than  by  a  combination  of  the  French  and 
American  Republics  and  a  continuance  in  firm  bonds  of  the  ties 
of  friendship  which  had  existed  between  them  for  such  a  long 
period.  For  that  reason  he  asked  the  company  to  drink  to  the 
"  health  of  the  two  Presidents.." 

The  chairman  proposed  a  toast  "To  the  memory  of  Gen. 
George  Washington,  first  president-general  of  the  Order  of  the 
Cincinnati,"  which  was  drunk  standing,  in  silence  and  in 
attitude  of  reverence. 

To  "The  Army  of  France,"  General  Brugere,  speaking  in 
French,  referred  to  the  actual  ties  of  friendship  and  associations 
between  the  armies  of  the  two  peoples.  He  could  not  express 
an  opinion  on  the  United  States  Army,  but  his  long  and  close 
acquaintance  with  General  Porter  enabled  him  to  form  the 
judgment  that  he  represented  the  spirit  of  the  American  Army, 
to  whose  health  he  drank. 

' '  The  Navy  of  France  ' '  found  a  happy  response  from  Vice- 
Admiral  Fournier.  Having  met  so  many  American  naval 
officers  since  his  arrival  in  American  waters,  he  felt  impressed 
with  every  branch  of  the  service.  He  was  also  touched  by  the 
excellence  of  the  American  marine  music.  He  also  referred  in 
the  highest  terms  to  the  discipline  and  soldierly  appearance  of 
the  National  Guard  as  he  had  seen  it  during  the  day.  The 
educational  system  at  Annapolis  he  regarded  as  worthy  of  the 
highest  admiration  and  proposed  the  health  of  the  "American 
Navy." 

"The  Institution  of  the  Order  of  the  Cincinnati"  was 
responded  to  by  Asa  Bird  Gardiner  in  a  retrospective  sketch. 

The  hour  being  well  advanced,  the  foreign  guests  withdrew, 
in  view  of  the  many  duties  of  hospitality  awaiting  them  during 
their  brief  stay  in  the  big  borough. 


EVENTS  OF  THE  DAY 

WEDNESDAY,  MAY  28 


IN  MEMORIAM—  GRANT 

A  MUNICIPAL  "DEJEUNER" 

ROCHAMBEA  U  BR  UGERE 

A  LA  GLOIRE,  A  "LE  GAULOIS  " 

VIVE  LA  FRANCE 
FRENCH  CHAMBER  OF 

COMMERCE 
DE  GRASSE  FOURNIER 

"LE  GAULOIS"  LEAVES  FOR 
BOSTON 


156 


VISITS  OF  CEREMONY 


In  the  early  part  of  the  following  day  Vice-  Admiral  Fournier 
and  Aids  Sauvaire-Jourdan  and  Le  Jay,  and  the  officers  of  the 
Gaulois,  with  General  Brugere  and  Captain  Fillonneau,  accom 
panied  by  Commander  Rodgers  and  Colonel  Bingham,  made 
a  formal  call  upon  Rear-Admiral  Barker,  commandant  of  the 
Brooklyn  Navy-  Yard,  whither  they  were  conveyed  from  New 
York  on  the  U.  S.  tug  Nina. 

The  visitors  were  formally  received  by  the  rear-admiral  and 
staff,  Captains  Harrington,  Snow,  and  Ross,  and  Commander 
Adams.  A  battalion  of  marines  at  parade  presented  arms  and 
the  band  played  '  '  Le  Marseillaise  '  '  as  the  distinguished  visitors 
stepped  ashore. 

After  a  cordial  welcome  the  callers  were  escorted  to  the  resi 
dence  of  the  commandant,  where  bounteous  refreshments  were 
enjoyed  and  mutual  felicitations  exchanged.  As  they  departed 
a  salute  of  17  guns  was  fired  in  their  honor. 

The  two  days  at  the  disposal  of  the  French  visitors  while 
at  the  metropolis  were  none  too  much  for  the  hospitalities  and 
demands  of  etiquette  and  ceremony  of  the  great  city  and  its 
citizens. 

About  half  an  hour  before  their  return  to  the  hotel  Mayor 
Low  appeared  to  escort  the  delegation  on  a  round  of  observation 
and  entertainment.  The  callers  having  rejoined  their  associates, 
the  entire  party  took  carriages,  General  Brugere,  Vice-  Admiral 
Fournier,  and  Comte  de  Lafayette,  with  the  Mayor  occupying 
the  first,  the  rest  accommodating  themselves  to  the  awaiting 
conveyances  as  most  convenient. 


158  Visits  of  Ceremony 

COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY 

The  sightseers,  preceded  by  a  body  of  mounted  police, 
moved  up  Fifth  avenue  through  Central  Park  to  Columbia 
University. 

As  they  entered  the  inclosure  of  the  latter  a  strong  force  of 
students  in  the  south  court  set  up  the  college  yell  with  cries 
of  ' '  Low. ' '  The  stentorian  efforts  of  the  students  thoroughly 
delighted  the  visitors,  who  were  enthusiastic  in  responsive 
salutations. 

Here  the  visitors  with  their  host  left  their  vehicles  and  under 
the  guidance  of  a  deputation  consisting  of  Adolphe  Cohn,  chief 
of  the  department  of  French,  and  Speraza,  Jordan,  Bargy,  Page, 
Nitza,  and  Todd,  professors  of  the  department  of  Romance  lan 
guages,  repaired  to  the  room  of  the  trustees  in  the  library. 
Here  Nicholas  Murray  Butler,  president,  received  the  callers 
in  a  brief  address  of  welcome  and  invitation  to  inspect  the 
university. 

AT   THK   TOMB   OF    GRANT 

After  a  stroll  through  the  library  and  gymnasium  the  visitors 
resumed  their  journey  to  the  tomb  of  Grant. 

Here  the  entire  party  again  alighted  and,  entering  the  mauso 
leum,  uncovered  their  heads  and  bowed  reverently.  General 
Porter,  chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees,  gave  an  interesting 
explanation  as  the  visitors  viewed  the  sarcophagus  from  the 
gallery.  At  his  request  they  were  also  granted  an  exceptional 
privilege,  they  being  the  first,  other  than  the  family  or  trustees, 
to  descend  into  the  crypt. 

After  a  few  minutes  at  the  sepulcher  of  America's  greatest 
captain,  the  visitors  continued  their  journey  to  the  hospitality 
of  the  executive  of  America's  greatest  and  the  world's  second 
greatest  municipality. 


Visits  of  Ceremony  159 

BREAKFAST   AT   THK    CLAREMONT 

The  scene  of  this  affair  was  the  north  and  south  plazas  of  the 
Claremont,  which  commanded  a  magnificent  view  of  the  Hud 
son  River,  the  shipping,  the  opposite  shores,  and  .cultivated 
hills  .near  and  far.  The  place  without  was  a  flaunting  show  of 
the  colors  of  both  countries,  and  within  was  abundantly  set  off 
with  flowers  and  foliage.  The  uniform  of  the  military  and 
naval  guests  and  elegant  toilets  of  the  women  enhanced  the 
brilliancy  of  the  spectacular  effects. 

As  the  guests  were  being  seated  an  orchestra  enlivened  the 
situation  with  appropriate  music,  and  during  the  happy  event 
which  ensued  discoursed  selections  of  popular  melodies  and 
operatic  airs. 

The  French  ambassador  having  been  summoned  to  Washing 
ton,  was  obliged  to  absent  himself.  Mine.  Cambon  was  escorted 
to  the  table  by  the  Mayor,  upon  whose  right  she  sat,  and  the 
Comtesse  de  Rochambeau  by  Ambassador  Porter,  sitting  at  the 
host's  left. 

The  main  table  was  spread  in  the  south  plaza  of  the  building, 
the  guests  occupying  seats  vis-a-vis  in  this  order: 

MRS.  Low  MAYOR  Low 

Levi  P.  Morton  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau 

Mrs.  Peirce  Gen.  Horace  Porter 

M.  Croiset  Vice- Admiral  Fournier 

Captain  Mahan  Commander  Rodgers 

Comte  de  Lafayette  *         Mme.  de  Margerie 

Mme.  Bruwaert  Rear- Admiral  Higginson 

Lyman  J.  Gage  Gen.  B.  F.  Tracy 

Comte  de  Rochambeau  Rear-Admiral  Coghlan 

T.  E.  Bruwaert  Whitelaw  Reid 

George  L.  Rives  Lieut.  Col.  Meaux  Saint-Marc 

Mme.  Vignal  Colonel  Bingham 

Morris  K.  Jessup  General  Chalendar 

Cornelius  N.  Bliss  H.  H.  D.  Peirce 

Admiral  Barker  Mme.  Cambon 

Mrs.  Reid 

General  Brugere 


i6o 


Visits  of  Ceremony 


The  remaining  guests  occupied  several  tables,  as  follows: 


Edward  D.  Adams 

Victor  Aigueparsse 

W.  H.  H.  Beebe 

Mayor  Berthelot 

Robert  de  Billy 

Jules  Bceufve 

David  A.  Boody 

Captain  Brownson 

C.  C.  Burlingham 

Nicholas  Murray  Butler 

Jacob  A.  Cantor 

Joseph  Cassidy 

General  di  Cesnola 

Vicomte  de  Chambrun 

Prof.  Adolphe  Cohn 

Frederic  R.  Coudert,  jr 

George  Cromwell 

Gen.  G.  M.  Dodge 

M.  Durand-Ruel 

Franklin  Edson 

lieutenant  Evans 

John  E.  Eustis 

Charles  S.  Fairchild 

Lieutenant  Vicomte  de  Faramond 

Charles  V.  Fornes 

Thomas  F.  Gilroy 

Lieutenant-Commander  Gleaves 

Henry  E.  Gourd 

William  R.  Grace 

Gen.  F.  V.  Green 

Jean  Guillemin 

Edward  M.  Grant 

Louis  F.  Haffen 

McDougall  Hawks 

Captain  Hemphill 

Louis  Hermite 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Hermite 

Robert  J.  Hoquet 

Adrian  Iselin,  jr. 

Thomas  L.  James 


Augustus  Jay 
Lieutenant  Jourdan 
Gen.  Horatio  C.  King 
John  LaFarge 
M.  Lagrave 
Captain  Lasson 
Lieutenant  Le  Jay 
Captain  Lyon 
Gen.  Anson  G.  McCook 
Chancellor  MacCracken 
James  H.  Mclnnes 
Gen.  James  Mac  Leer 
Pierre  de  Margerie 
Captain  Miller 
Edwin  Morgan 
Judge  James  A.  O' Gorman 
Colonel  Partridge 
General  Pierson 
Captain  Fillonneau 
James  W.  Pinchot 
M.  Renouard 
James  B.  Reynolds 
Major-General  Roe 
Captain  de  Saint-Marc 
William  F.  Sheehan 
George  R.  Sheldon 
General  Sickles 
John  A.  Sleicher 
Gen.  George  Moore  Smith 
Henry  Sanger  Snow 
Louis  Stern 
J.  Edward  Swanstrom 
Robert  A.  Van  Wyck 
General  Varnum 
Mr.  Velten 
Captain  Vignal 
General  Webb- 
Baron  Werth 
Wm.  R.  Willcox 
Prof.  B.  D.  Woodway 
Frederick  W.  Wurster 
Richard  Young 


Visits  of  Ceremony  161 

Before  separating,  the  mayor,  Mr.  L,ow,  requested  his  guests 
to  drink  to  the  health  of  President  L,oubet,  of  France,  which  he 
proposed  in  a  few  felicitous  words,  concluding  by  toasting  his 
guests  as  follows: 

We  appreciate  highly  the  compliment  paid  to  us  by  the  French  people 
in  understanding  how  thoroughly  we  are  in  sympathy  with  them. 

General  Brugere,  in  response,  said  the  delegation  had 
received  a  welcome  and  hospitality  in  New  York  and  the 
United  States  which  had  given  birth  to  memories  which  would 
be  carried  back  to  France  and  would  not  soon  be  obliterated, 
closing  his  fervid  oratory  with  a  sentiment  to  ' '  The  Mayor, ' ' 
and  quaffing  heartily  to  his  good  health  and  grace. 

Vice- Admiral  Fournier,  with  the  gallantry  of  his  profession, 
proposed  "The  Ladies,"  with  a  corollary  to  the  effect  that 
they  were  the  flowers  of  France  and  the  crowning  glory  of 
vigorous  and  progressive  America. 

So  ended  the  entertainment,  it  being  2.30  p.  m.  The  guests 
departed  without  formality,  some  returning  to  the  hotel  and 
others  going  to  the  pier  (Thirty-fifth  street  and  North  River), 
from  which  point  the  launches  from  the  squadron  carried  them 
and  other  invited  guests  to  the  Gaulois. 

GAYETIES   ON    THE    ' '  GAULOIS  ' ' 

Between  the  hours  of  4  and  6  p.  m.  the  French  war  snip  was 
astir  with  hilarity,  smiles,  and  melody. 

During  the  interim  of  time  set  apart  for  this  peaceful  intru 
sion  upon  the  routine  of  duty,  the  sprightly  little  launches, 
flitting  between  shore  and  ship,  delivered  about  300  guests. 
The  pier  at  Thirty-fifth  street  and  North  River  was  itself 
noticeable  for  the  'contrast  of  the  elegant  equipages  of  the 
elite  of  the  city  with  the  ordinary  vehicles  of  transportation 
and  trade. 

The  Gaulois,  which  swung  at  her  cables  in  midstream,  was 
dressed  hrthe  highest  style  of  naval  decoration.     Aloft  and  on 
deck  was  a  display  of  bunting  and  of  roses,  by  which  the  mech 
anisms  of  war  were-  completely  hidden. 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 n 


1 62  Visits  of  Ceremony 

Over  the  deck  was  spread  an  immense  canvas,  with  the  sides 
inclosed  with  flags. 

From  the  after-deck  came  sounds  of  music  from  the  ship's 
band  and  on  the  quarter,  forward,  and  upper  decks  luncheon 
was  served  from  bounteously  laden  tables. 

General  Bfugere  and  Vice- Admiral  Fournier,  hastening  from 
the  Claremont,  had  arrived  on  the  battle  ship  in  advance  of  the 
guests. 

About  5  p.  m.  the  Mayor  and  Mrs.  Low,  arriving  in  an  auto 
mobile,  were  received  on  the  pier  by  lieutenant  Hill,  of  the 
Olympia,  who  attended  them  to  the  great  craft  in  one  of  the 
war  ship's  launches. 

As  they  stepped  on  deck  a  detachment  of  marines  paraded, 
came  to  a  "  present,"  drums  ruffled,  and  Vice- Admiral  Fournier 
and  General  Brugere  came  forward  and  welcomed  them  most 
cordially. 

The  guests  were  fully  representative  of  the  official,  social, 
financial,  and  business  interests  of  the  five  boroughs  located 
at  the  mouth  of  the  historic  Hudson.  Many  had  participated 
in  the  affair  at  The  Claremont  and  had  come  aboard  to  extend 
expressions  of  consideration.  The  entertainment  was  entirely 
informal  and  highly  enjoyable.  The  officers  of  the  ship  were 
zealous  in  their  attentions,  showing  the  guests  about  and  doing 
all  in  their  power  to  gratify  the  natural  curiosity  of  land  people 
in  general  and  ladies  in  particular  concerning  a  man-of-war. 

GREETING   OP  THE    FRENCH    CHAMBER    OF   COMMERCE 

Among  the  social  events  recognized  in  the  programme  ar 
ranged  by  the  Department  of  State  in  advance  of  the  arrival  of 
the  official  and  unofficial  ' '  Guests  of  the  nation  ' '  was  a  banquet 
by  the  French  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  New  York  in  honor  of 
M.  Jules  Cambon,  ambassador  of  France,  and  members  of  the 
ROCHAMBEAU  Mission. 

This  was  in  every  respect  up  to  the  high  plane  of  the  hospi 
talities  shown  the  ' '  Representatives  of  the  French  Government 
and  people' '  and  ' '  The  members  of  the  families  of  ROCHAM 
BEAU  and  Lafayette." 


Visits  of  Ceremony  163 

The  hall  was  adorned  with  French  and  American  flags,  the 
foliage  of  tropical  and  flowers  of  temperate  climes. 

The  guests  to  the  number -of  107  were  disposed  before  an  oval 
table  in  the  center  of  the  main  hall,  faced  by  two  of  crescent 
shape.  At  the  table  of  honor  sat  M.  Cambon,  ambassador  of 
France  at  Washington,  having  on  his  right  Mr.  Low,  mayor  of 
New  York,  and  at  his  left  Gen.  Horace  Porter,  ambassador 
of  the  United  States  at  Paris,  and  vis-a-vis  M.  Henry  K. 
Gourd,  president  of  the  French  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  as 
flanking  guests,  right,  General  Brugere,  and  left,  Vice- Admiral 
Fournier. 

The  array  of  names  of  the  invited  guests  was  representative 
of  the  influence  and  association  of  the  French  element  with 
the  mercantile,  commercial,  political,  and  social  life  of  the 
metropolis  and  country  of  their  adoption. 

The  occasion  was  illustrative  of  the  potent  touch  of  language, 
tradition,  kindred  feeling,  and  patriotic  remembrance  main 
tained  across  the  sea. 

It  is  interesting  to  chronicle  the  list: 

The  Ambassador  of  France  and  Mme.  Cambon. 

General  Brugere. 

Vice-Admiral  Ernest  Fournier. 

M.  Alfred  Croiset,  doyen  of  the  Faculty  01  Letters  of  Pans. 

General  of  Brigade  Ferdinand  ds  Chalendar. 

Captain  de  Surgy,  commandant  of  the  French  battle  ship  Le  Gaulois, 

Lieut.  Col.  Paul  Meaux  Saint-Marc. 

Comte  and  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau. 

Comte  Paul  Sahune  de  Lafayette. 

M.  Lagrave. 

M.  and  Mme.  de  Margerie. 

M.  Edmond  Bruwaert,  consul-general  of  France. 

M.  Velten,  deputy  consul  of  France. 

M.  Louis  Hermite. 

Vicomte  de  Chambrun. 

M.  Victor  Ayguesparsse. 

M.  Jean  Guillemin. 

Lieut.  Col.  Marcel  Hermite. 

M.  Renouard. 

M.  Robert  de  Billy. 

Commandant  Berthelot. 


164  Visits  of  Ceremony 

Captain  and  Mme.  Vignal. 

Lieutenant  de  Vaisseau  de  Faramond. 

M.  Jules  Boeufve,  chancellor  of  the  French  embassy  at  Washington. 

Lieutenant  de  Vaisseau  Andre"  Sauvoire-Jourdan. 

Lieut.  Gustave  le  Jay. 

Lieutenant  Baron  de  Reinach  de  Werth. 

Capt.  Poilloiie  de  Saint-Mars. 

Capt.  Etienne  Fillonneau. 

Capt.  Henri  Lasson. 

Herbert  H.  D.    Peirce,   Assistant  Secretary  of  State,  chairman   of  the 
President's  commission,  and  Mrs.  Peirce. 

Col.  Theodore  A.  Bingham,  U.  S.  Army,  military  aid  to  the  President 
of  the  United  States. 

Commander  Raymond  P.  Rodgers,  U.  3    Navy,  member  of  the  Presi 
dent's  commission. 

Kdwin  Morgan,  secretary  of  the  President's  commission 

Seth  Low,  mayor  of  New  York. 

Gen.  Horace  Porter,  ambassador  of  the  United  States. 

Levi  P.  Morton,  former  Vice-President  of  the  United  States. 

Maj.   Gen.   John  R.   Brooke,  former  governor-general  of   Cuba,   com 
mander  of  the  Department  of  the  Atlantic. 

Rear-Admiral  Barker,  commanding  the  Brooklyn  Navy- Yard. 

Rear- Admiral    Higginson,    commanding    escorting    squadron    to    the 
Gaulois. 

Whitelaw  Reid,  former  minister  of  the  United  States  to  France. 

Morris  K.  Jessup,  president  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  New  York. 

Reverend  Father  Micher. 

Gen.  James  M.  Varnum. 

Captain  Lyon,  United  States  cruiser  Olympia,  flagship  of  the  escorting 
squadron. 

Captain     Brownson,    United    States    battle   ship  Alabama,    escorting 
squadron. 

Captain    Hemphill,    United    States    battle  ship  Kearsarge,  escorting 
squadron. 

Lieutenant-Commander  Gleaves,  commanding  dispatch  steamer  Dolphin. 

Captain  Poirot,  of  the  French  liner  Savoie. 

Captain  Tournier,  of  the  Gascogne. 

Mr.  Grout,  comptroller  of  the  city  of  New  Yoric. 

Jacob  A.  Cantor,  president  of  the  borough  of  Manhattan. 

Charles  V.  Fornes,  president  of  the  board  of  aldermen  of  New  York. 

M.  Dietlin,  vice-president  of  the  French  Benevolent  Society. 

James  B.  Reynolds,  secretary  to  the  mayor  of  New  York. 

Prof.  Adolphe  Cohn. 
.     M. Jouvand. 

M.  Revillon. 


Visits  of  Ceremony  165 

The  menu  cover  was  ornamented  with  an  artistic  photo 
gravure  of  the  full-length  portrait  of  Marshal  ROCHAMBKAU, 
by  Regnault. 

An  orchestra  kept  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  the  evening, 
discoursing  the  popular  airs  of  the  two  lands. 

As  the  dinner  progressed,  M.  Henry  E.  Gourd,  master  of 
ceremonies,  called  attention  to  another  part  of  the  enjoyment 
of  the  evening,  which  would  then  begin. 

Addressing  the  Ambassador,  he  said: 

I  believe  it  was  an  aphorism  of  Brillat-Savarin:  "Ask  to  a  repast  him 
who  will  charge  himself  with  happiness  during  all  the  time  he  is  under 
your  roof."  My  duty  as  master  of  the  house  is  to  cause  none  displeasure, 
and  even  to  assist  you  to  conceal  your  modesty.  I  shall  therefore  pass  over 
the  sentiment  of  esteem,  respect,  and  affection  with  which  you  have 
inspired  us,  and  shall  simply  thank  you  for  being  able  to  assist  at  this 
fete.  I  salute  you  for  it.  I  repeat  what  I  have  said  in  the  past,  that  of  all 
the  representatives  of  our  Government  you  have  been  most  prominent 
among  those  who  have  contributed  for  the  past  twenty  years,  to  my 
knowledge  at  least,  as  much  by  acts  as  by  speech  to  assure  to  France  the 
valued  sympathies  of  this  country. 

Then  addressing  the  members  of  the  Mission  and  associates, 
he  continued: 

General,  delegates,  and  gentlemen:  This  is  to  me  a  rare  good  fortune  to 
be  called  by  my  duties  to  wish  you  a  welcome  among  us,  and  I  hold  it  a 
very  great  honor  that  it  falls  to  me  to  extend  it  in  the  name  of  the  cham 
ber  of  commerce  before  an  assemblage  so  imposing. 

The  object  of  our  association,  as  the  name  indicates,  is  to  strengthen 
the  relations  of  business  between  the  United  States  and  France,  but  its 
mission,  as  we  understand  it,  is  not  limited  to  a  study  of  the  solution  of 
questions  purely  commercial  or  economic.  Its  sphere  of  action  is  more 
extended.  It  embraces  everything  which  contributes  to  renew  the  ties  of 
amity  which  have  already  existed  more  than  a  century  between  our  two 
countries,  to  assert  our  influence,  our  prestige  here.  As  a  result  this 
occasion  is  but  the  manifestation  of  the  advantages  we  now  enjoy. 

It  is  for  this  reason,  gentlemen,  we  applaud  the  friendly  initiative  of 
President  Roosevelt,  and  that  we  are  rejoiced  to  see  M.  President  Loubet 
respond  to  the  invitation  with  a  fullness  which  must  thrill  the  hearts  of  the 
descendants  of  Lafayette  and  ROCHAMBEAU,  in  proving  that  the  recollec 
tion  of  the  services  of  their  ancestors  still  lives  in  the  soul  of  the  two  great 
nations. 


1 66  Visits  of  Ceremony 

The  President  of  the  Republic,  in  addition,  has  shown  particular  inspi 
ration  in  the  choice  of  the  delegates  whom  he  has  chosen  to  represent 
France  in  connection  with  this  memorial  commemoration.  It  is  an  honor 
for  the  United  States,  as  for  us,  to  receive  M.  le  General  Brugere,  com 
mander  in  chief  of  our  army,  whose  energy  and  great  military  skill  are 
the  sure  guaranties  of  the  maintenance  of  peace  and  vigilant  preparation 
for  war. 

M.  1' Admiral  Fournier,  long  connected  with  our  navy,  and  pointed  out 
by  public  opinion  and  even  by  the  Government  as  the  eventual  successor 
of  that  irresistible  leader  of  men,  Admiral  Gervais. 

M.  Alfred  Croiset,  the  eminent  member  of  the  Institute  and  the  dean  of 
the  venerable  Sorbonne,  which  has  not  suffered  from  the  progress  of  time, 
and  which,  always  young,  though  nearly  eight  centuries  old,  pursues  its 
mission  of  good  for  the  great  glory  of  French  letters  and  science,  as  well 
as  for  the  great  profit  of  the  aspirations  of  mankind. 

Some  of  the  representatives  are  distinguished  in  the  ministry  of  foreign 
affairs,  commerce,  and  the  fine  arts,  one  being  a  sculptor  of  undoubted 
talent,  who  knows  how  to  give  to  his  works  the  sense  which  nature  has 
refused  to  himself,  because  they  speak  to  us. 

Also  the  brilliant  officers  of  the  staff  of  all  arms,  who  also  contribute  to 
the  sincerity  of  the  friendship  of  France,  by  their  being  with  us  this 
evening. 

After  paying  an  eloquent  tribute  to  the  discipline,  self-sacri 
fice,,  and  patriotism  of  the  French  army,  upon  which  all  must 
rely  for  the  maintenance  of  territorial  integrity,  the  homes  of 
the  people,  and  the  preservation  of  the  national  honor  unsullied, 
the  speaker  referred  with  a  feeling  of  patriotic  pride  to  that 
redoubtable  floating  fortress,  the  Gaulois,  and  the  tricolor  flag, 
symbolizing  in  the  blue  the  infinite  space  where  rests  the  Throne 
of  the  Almighty,  wrho  holds  in  his  hand  the  destiny  of  nations;  in 
the  white,  the  sustenance  which  makes  strong  men  good  citizens 
and  brave  soldiers ;  in  the  red  the  blood  of  ancestors  and  con 
temporaries  who  have  fought  on  every  field  for  the  glory  of 
France  and  "for  the  sacred  cause  of  liberty." 

After  extending  his  thanks  to  the  many  distinguished  guests 
who  had  honored  the  chamber  by  their  presence,  he  spoke  of 
the  recent  impressive  proofs  of  friendship  which  had  pro 
foundly  touched  every  Frenchman — the  catastrophe  at  Mar 
tinique  and  the  sublime  spirit  of  generosity  exhibited  by  the 
United  States  in  extending  the  hand  of  succor  to'  France  and 


Visits  of  Ceremony  167 

her  afflicted  people,  as  Lafayette  and  ROCHAMBEAU   had   to 
America  and  her  people  struggling  for  liberty,  concluding — 

I  ask  you  to  associate  in  the  same  toast  the  two  powerful  nations  so 
brilliantly  represented  here  to-night,  the  members  of  the  French  Mission 
and  the  guests  of  distinction  who  have  responded  to  our  invitation  with 
such  a  spirit  of  remembrance  of  the  close  ties  which  unite  France  and 
America.  "  I  drink  to  France,  to  the  United  States,  to  our  guests,  and 
friends." 

Ambassador  Cambon,  amid  a  tumult  of  applaus'e,  after  eulo 
gizing  American  soil,  American  people,  and  American  institu 
tions,  again  pressed  the  importance  of  the  recent  demonstrations 
of  Franco- American  amity.  This  amity>  he  said,  needed  but 
an  opportunity  to  manifest  itself.  It  was  found  on  the  day  of  the 
inauguration  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  monument.  It  was  eagerly 
seized  and  all  France  was  touched.  He  referred  to  the  atten 
tions  which  the  American  Government  had  shown  the  envoys 
of  France.  He  thanked  the  members  of  the  American  commis 
sion  for  all  their  kindness  not  only  toward  the  Mission,  but  also 
toward  France.  In  reviewing  all  that  had  passed  during  the 
eight  days  all  Frenchmen  must  be  convinced  that  the  United 
States  feels  closer  to  France  than  to  any  other  country.  The 
French  sensibility  found  an  echo  in  the  hearts  of  Americans, 
which  also  explains  much  easier  that  ' '  there  is  in  the  veins  of  the 
American  people  more  French  blood  than  we  think,  the  French 
colonies  of  Louisiana  and  the  States  of  the  West  having  received 
a  large  part  of  their  population  from  the  great  country — our 
Fatherland." 

He.  continued : 

I  am  further  delighted  to  have  the  opportunity  to  speak  to  my  own 
countrymen  on  these  friendly  shores  and  to  speak  in  my  own  tongue. 
You  have  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  for  yourselves  the  causes  of  Amer 
ica's  great  prosperity.  America  owes  its  present  development  to  the  energy 
and  moral  backbone  of  its  people.  New  York  is  the  greatest  American 
city,  and  yet  it  is  unlike  other  American  cities. 

It  is  like  Alexandria  in  old  Egypt — proudly  energetic,  ambitious,  and 
full,  of  buoyant  enthusiasm.  It  is  here  that  Europeans  get  their  first 
glimpse  of  a  mighty  continent. 


1 68  Visits  of  Ceremony 

After  having  thanked  Mr.  Low  for  the  hospitality  and  the 
welcome  accorded  the  French  envoys,  the  ambassador  paid  a 
glowing  tribute  to  the  exalted  character  and  fixity  of  purpose 
of  President  Roosevelt,  to  whom  and  to  President  Loubet 
he  proposed  a  toast  "Good  health,  long  life,  and  abundant 
happiness. ' ' 

M.  .Lagrave,  representing  the  French  minister  of  commerce, 
gave  an  interesting  epitome  of  the  great  increase  and  strength 
of  French  trade  as  shown  by  statistics. 

A  French  chamber  of  commerce  in  the  greatest  commercial 
city  on  the  Western  Hemisphere  and  with  hardly  a  rival  in  the 
world  was  a  forceful  indication,  he  thought,  of  the  spirit,  energy, 
and  enterprise  of  his  countrymen  resident  on  these  shores,  and 
hoped  they  would  exert  their  great  influence  in  causing  the 
French  flag  to  float  on  every  sea. 

Concluding,  he  said — 

Our  nation,  realizing  how  much  we  could  learn  from  America,  decided 
to  found  an  industrial  school  here  for  the  training  of  our"  young  engineers. 
We  want  them  to  study  every  phase  of  the  great  life  here. 

This  entertainment,  said  the  presiding  officer,  will  always 
bear  a  prominent  place  in  the  annals  of  the  French  colony  of 
New  York. 


EVENTS  OF  THE  DAY  . 

THURSDAY,  MAY  29 


AT  "OPHIR  HALL  "— FRIENDLY  SONS 
OF  ST.  PATRICK  HOSTS— NEW  YORK— 
"LE  GAULOIS,"  BOSTON 

ITINERARY     • 

Special  train  placed  for  occupancy  in  station  at 
11.30  p.  m. 


170 


FETE  CHAMPETRE  AT  OPHIR  HALL 

* 

The  French  ambassador  and  embassy  suite,  accompanied  by 
their  wives,  Comte  and  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau,  General 
Brugere,  Admiral  Fournier,  General  Chalendar,  and  their  aids 
and  the  civil  members  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  Mission  were 
entertained  on  the  following  day  at  a  luncheon  at  Ophir  Hall  by 
Whitelaw  Reid,  former  ambassador  to  France. 

Among  the  Americans  present  were  Mayor  and  Mrs.  Low; 
Ambassador  Horace  Porter;  Gen.  Benjamin  F.  Tracy,  former 
Secretary  of  the  Navy;  Captain  Mahan,  U.  S.  Navy;  Captain 
Brownson;  the  members  of  the  President's  commission;  Gen. 
James  H.  Wilson;  Gen.  Alexander  F.  Webb;  Augustus  and 
Mrs.  Jay;  Charles  Steward  Smith;  Loyall  Farragut;  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Nicholas  Fish;  W.  D.  Sloan;  Mrs.  Peter  Cooper  Hewitt; 
Mrs.  H.  McK.  Twombly;  D.  O.  Mills,  and  others;  in  all  74. 

The  guests  left  the  city  on  a  " special,"  arriving  at  the  farm 
at  11.30  a.  m.  The  French  flag  was  displayed  over  the  porte- 
cochere  and  the  Stars  and  Stripes  at  the  peak  of  the  tower. 
The  guests  having  passed  the  time  pleasantly  in  conversation 
in  the  spacious  entertaining  suite  or  in  strolling  through  the 
gardens  and  greenhouses,  at  i  p.  m.  sat  down  before  a  single 
table  in  the  main  dining  hall,  the  overflow  being  accommodated 
in  an  adjoining  room. 

There  were  three  toasts  "The  President  of  the  United 
States,"  "The  President  of  France,"  and  "The  ROCHAMBEAU 
Mission." 

The  response  to  the  first  two  was  the  playing  of  the  national 
airs  of  the  Republics,  respectively;  to  the  last  General  Brugere 
made  a  happy  response,  which  added  to  the  laurels  he  had 
already  won  in  the  arena  of  impromptu  speech  making. 

171 


172  F$te  Champetre  at  Ophir  Hall 

After  the  luncheon  the  host  and  his  retinue  of  guests  on  the 
way  to  the  station  made  the  tour  of  the  farm  and  buildings, 
arriving  in  the  city  at  4.30  p.  m. 

ERIN  GO  BRAGH — IRELAND  FOREVER 

The  services  of  the  Irish  regiments,  Walsh  and  Dillon,  in  the 
military  and  naval  operations  of  France  in  America  under  the 
treaty  of  alliance,  gave  the  banquet  tendered  by  the  Society  of 
the  Friendly  Sons  of  St.  Patrick  to  the  ROCHAMBEAU  Mission 
eminent  fitness.  The  entire  affair  in  its  mutuality  of  senti 
ment  and  spontaneity  of  enthusiasm,  was  a  renewal  of  the 
ties  of  sympathy  and  friendship  which  had  existed  in  time 
whereof  the  memory  of  man  runneth  not  to  the  contrary. 

PARADED   AS   ESCORT 

About  6  p.  m.  nine  companies  of  the  Sixty-ninth  Regiment 
of  New  York,  Colonel  Duffy,  commanding,  formed  in  line  in 
front  of  the  Waldorf-Astoria.  As  the  party  emerged  from  the 
hotel  the  regiment  "presented,"  drums  ruffled,  and  colors 
dipped.  After  recognizing  the  salutation,  General  Brugere  and 
Admiral  Fournier,  accompanied  by  Colonel  Bingham,  entered 
the  first  carriage.  Ambassador  Cambon  and  other  members  of 
the  delegation  followed. 

The  march  to  the  place  of  entertainment  was  a  continuous 
ovation  by  the  passing  throng.  Arriving  at  Delmonico's,  the 
regiment  formed  opposite  the  entrance  and  again  saluted  as 
General  Brugere  and  his  associates  alighted,  after  which  the 
regiment  returned  to  its  armory. 

The  guests  were  received  at  the  entrance  by  the  French 
consul-general,  M.  Bruwaert,  who  escorted  them  to  the  brilliant 
scene  of  the  evening's  entertainment. 

The  ties  between  the  Irishman  and  France  have  reason  to  be 
close.  That  which  France  accomplished  for  the  struggling 
British  colonies  in  North  America  was  attempted  by  that  gen 
erous  nation  for  Ireland.  When  James  II  of  England  was  dis 
possessed  of  his  throne  as  a  result  of  the  political  and  religious 
upheaval  of  1688,  his  chief  partisans  followed  him  to  his  hos 
pitable  court  of  refuge.  Among  their  English  countrymen  they 


Fete  Champetre  at  Ophir  Hall  173 

received  the  name  "Jacobites,"  which  adhered  to  them  in 
maintaining  the  rights  of  James  Stuart,  the  "old,"  and  Charles 
Edward,  the  young  pretender. 

The  King  set  up  his  fight  against  the  so-charged  usurping 
Orange.  At  the  opening  of  the  second  campaign  of  Stuart  in 
Ireland  James  and  Louis  XIV  arranged  an  exchange  of  troops, 
in  order  to  give  prestige  to  the  royal  cause.  Under  this  private 
pact  L,e  Grand  Monarch  Dieudienne  sent  to  Ireland  a  division  of 
6,000  of  the  elite  of  his  army  under  Comte  de  L,auzun,  one  of  his 
very  best  officers  and  of  ancestral  kin  to  the  gallant  legionary  of 
the  French  army  of  ROCHAMBEAU  in  America,  Le  Due  de  Lauzun- 
Biron.  The  same  convoy  which  brought  to  Ireland  the  French 
troops  of  Lauzun,  carried  back  to  France  the  same  number  of 
Erin's  bravest  sons.  The  character  of -these  men  may  be  best 
known  by  saying  that  among  them  was  the  famous  brigade  of 
Montcashel,  whose  discipline  and  exploits  were  most  renowned, 
even  in  the  annals  of  the  warlike  Irishman. 

After  the  defeat  of  Boyne,  the  Stuart  king  fled  to  France,  and 
with  him  went  many  of  his  bravest  soldiers.  - 

Next  we  find  theni  at  the  courts  and  on  the  battlefields  of 
the  Continent,  winning  fame  and  titles,  one  a  marshal  of  France, 
another  a  premier  of  Spain,  and  others  distinguished  under  the 
Great  Frederick,  laying  the  foundation  of  the  Prussian  monarchy. 

The  bloody  field  of  Fontenoy  resounds  to  their  valor.  The 
regiments  of  Dillon  and  Walsh  among  the  forces  of  D'Estaing  at 
Savannah  had  every  officer  an  Irishman;  Count  Arthur  Dillon 
leading  one  of  the  columns  of  assault  up  the  British  works. 
With  these  facts  in  view  no  entertainment  in  the  series  of 
national  and  private  hospitalities  was  more  appropriate  than  the 
banquet  of  the  Friendly  Sons  of  St.  Patrick,  and  so  the  members 
of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  Mission  recognized  it. 

FRIENDLY   SONS   OP    ST.  PATRICK    REMEMBER    REGIMENTS 
DILLON    AND    WALSH 

The  rooms  were  richly  draped  with  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
of  the  States,  the  Harp  and  Green  of  Erin,  and  the  Tricolor  of 
France.  Red,  white,  and  blue  and  green  was  the  color  scheme 


174          -     Fete  Champetre  at  Ophir  Hall 

of  the  evening.  Festoons  of  smilax  and  tiny  incandescent 
lights  produced  the  effect  of  an  enchanted  bower,  and  the  room 
was  redolent  with  the  fragrance  of  bloom.  Patriotic  emblems 
were  numerous,  and  the  music  breathed  the  theme  and  sentiment 
of  the  evening.  It  was  a  modern  realization  of  Tara's  Hall. 
The  presiding  officer  sat  at  the  center  of  a  raised  table.  As  a 
background  there  stood  forth  on  canvas  a  full  portrait  figure  of 
Ireland's  patron  saint.  As  a  legend  overhead,  "  Cead  mille 
failthe  "  (One  hundred  thousand  welcomes). 

The  disposition  of  the  edibles  having  been  completed,  Justice 
James  A.  O' Gorman,  president  of  the  society  and  presiding 
officer,  enlivened  the  occasion  by  reading  a  telegram  from 
President  Roosevelt,  expressive  of  his  regret  at  not  being  able 
to  be  present,  which  was  met  by  an  outbreak  of  huzzas  and  an 
orchestral  outburst  of  the  Star  Spangled  Banner. 

The  Justice  increased  the  enthusiasm  of  "the  moment  by 
proposing  the  health  of  President  Roosevelt,  and  as  a  sentiment — 

We  rejoice  that  the  two  great  Republics  of  the  world  continue  united 
in  the  majestic  brotherhood  of  liberty.  May  they  ever  be  the  great 
exemplars  and  evangels  of  human  freedom  and  justice,  and  may  their 
achievements  be  a  hope  and  an  inspiration  to  all  the  rest  of  mankind. 

The  French  ambassador,  responding  in  English  to  the  toast, 
' '  The  President  of  the  French  Republic, ' '  very  effectively 
pointed  out  the  unity  of  thought  and  effort  which  had  existed 
for  centuries  between  France  and  Ireland.  Continuing,  he 
said — 

To-day  the  Sons  of  France  are  with  you  as  were  their  fathers  over  a 
century  ago. 

As  a  climax  to  his  remarks  the  entire  company  broke  out 
in  the  familiar  "He's  a  jolly  good  fellow."  in  which  the  French 
guests  joined  with  great  heartiness. 

ARCHBISHOP  IRELAND'S  ADDRESS 

Archbishop  Ireland,  who  began  in  English  and  concluded  in 
French  his  address,  on  "France  and  the  United  States," 
aroused  a  storm  of  applause,  particularly  emphasizing  his 


Fete  Champetre  at  Ophir  Hall  175 

remarks    by    waving   the    flags   of    Ireland    and   of    the   two 
countries  of  the  toast,  all  of  which  he  held  in  his  right  hand. 

In  every  thought  and  sentiment  his  words  were  especially 
impressive  and  appropriate.  He  said: 

History  has  taught  us  that  the  banners  of  France  and  the  United  States 
should  be  unfolded  with  the  flag  of  Erin.  We  were  one  at  Yorktown. 
Our  sympathies  were  in  accord;  our  hearts  throbbed  in  unison.  All  three 
were  fighting  for  the  realization  of  that  latter  day  dream,  for  the  establish 
ment  of  freedom — for  the  apotheosis  of  freedom.  The  future  of  the  world 
belongs  to  democracy.  America,  born  in  poverty  and  nursed  into  manhood 
by  the  loving  hand  of  mother  France,  has  become  a  mighty  nation,  a  land 
of  force,  of  splendor,  and  a  guiding  star  in  the  heavens. 

Since  France  sent  her  aristocracy  and  her  money  to  our  shores,  America 
has  changed,  has  become  transformed,  but  she  still  remains  true  to  her 
standard  of  freedom  to  all  men;  she  still  remains  the  land  of  liberty  and 
order.  Now  that  the  United  States  is  rich  and  powerful,  all  nations  court 
her  friendship  and  her  regard,  but  we  in  the  hour  of  our  prosperity  and  of 
our  happiness  can  not  forget  that  in  the  days  of  misery  and  despondency 
France  alone  of  all  the  nations  extended  to  us  its  generous  heart,  its 
sympathy,  and  the  service  of  men  like  ROCHA.MBEAU  and  Lafayette. 

He  closed  his  remarks  with  the  toast  "  France  and  Ireland," 
which  was  accorded  hearty  approval. 

An  original  poem  by  Joseph  J.  C.  Clark  011  the  kinship  of  the 
Celt  was  well  received. 

Justice  James  Fitzgerald  then  spoke  on  the  memory  of 
"Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU." 

The  theme  of  the  evening,  "  France  and  Ireland,"  which  had 
been  proposed  by  the  venerable  Archbishop  Ireland,  drew  forth 
the  forceful  and  dramatic  eloquence  of  Mr.  Bourke  Cockran. 
He  said: 

I'd  leave  my  dying  bed  for  an  opportunity  to  be  present  at  such  a  gath 
ering.  I  have  been  impressed  by  the  sincere  manner  in  which  my  people 
have  welcomed  these  distinguished  delegates  to  these  shores.  I  have  been 
impressed  by  the  sincerity  of  the  acknowledgment  of  the  American  people 
of  the  great  debt  they  owe  to  France.  France  never  asked  us  for  material 
compensation  for  the  assistance  tendered  us.  France  never  asked  for  a 
naval  station,  for  a  portion  of  our  territory  as  a  reward  for  the  vitally  valu 
able  services  which  she  rendered  us.  She  never  looked  on  her  great  gift 
as  a  thing  which  needed  reward.  That  gallant  nation  was  as  generous  in 
peace  as  she  was  in  war.  She  gave  us  liberty  and  left  us  to  enjoy  it.  Her 


176  Fete  Champetre  at  Ophir  Hall 

gift  was  the  supreme  contribution  to  the  civilization  of  the  world.  The 
American  Republic  is  secure  because  it  was  founded  and  has  been  nurtured 
on  moral  law.  To  appreciate  thoroughly  what  this  means  one  must  go 
back  to  the  teachings  on  the  shores  of  Galilee,  when  man  was  told  that  the 
ideal  to  be  striven  for  was  the  brotherhood  of  man.  Our  nation  has  tried 
to  exemplify  that  ideal.  To  that  conception  it  owes  its  soundness  to-day. 
Can  we  listen  with  patience  to  the  reports  that  France  is  sinking,  that 
other  nations  are  passing  her,  that  her  fortresses  are  smoldering,  and  that 
her  institutions  are  crumbling.  You  might  as  well  try  to  eliminate  the 
stars  from  the  universe  as  to  say  that  France  can  be  dispensed  with  in  the 
great  fraternity  of  nations  in  the  proud  advancement  of  modern  civiliza 
tion.  Both  France  and  Ireland 'have  protested  against  England  and  her 
course  in  South  Africa.  Both  have  watched  with  fear  for  the  outcome  of 
that  dreaded  conflict.  Both  have  prayed  that  justice  would  be  triumphant, 
that  right  will  have  victory  over  wrong,  and  that  freedom  will  some  day 
be  spread  broadcast  throughout  all  the  world. 

General  Brugere  took  up  the  sentiment  as  a  soldier  speaking 
of  the  glories  of  the  French  arms  on  land. 

Vice- Admiral  Fournier  continued,  by  extolling  the  achieve 
ments  of  France  on  the  sea. 

It  was  midnight  before  the  Curtain  fell  upon  the  scene  and 
closed  the  generous  hospitality  of  America's  greatest  munici 
pality. 

From  the  banquet 'hall  the  "Guests  of  the  nation"  departed 
to  participate  in  the  memorial  demonstrations  at  Newport  at  the 
grave  of  De  Ternay. 

THE    "GAULOIS"    OFF    FOR    BOSTON 

In  keeping  in  touch  with  the  shore  movements  of  the 
ROCHAMBKAU  Mission,  the  Gaulois,  accompanied  by  the  Kear- 
sarge,  weighed  anchor  after  sunset  on  the  28th  and  at  9.43 
p.  m.  passed  Sandy  Hook  to  sea,  laying  her  course  for  Boston. 

They  had  been  preceded  by  the  United  States  cruiser  Olympia, 
of  the  escorting  squadron,  from  Sandy  Hook  outward  at  6.54 
a.  m.,  also  for  Boston,  where  the  vessels  were  to  meet  in  antici 
pation  of  parting  honors  on  the  sailing  of  the  Gaulois,  homeward 
bound. 


A  Day  of  Memories  177 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Rhode  Island  State  Society  of 
the  Cincinnati,  held,  pursuant  to  law,  in  the  senate  chamber  of 
the  statehouse,  Newport,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1902,  His 
Excellency  M.  Bmile  Loubet,  President  of  the  French  Republic, 
was  duly  elected  an  honorary  member  of  the  order. 

[Translation.] 

PRESIDENCY  OF  THE  REPUBLIC, 

Paris,  December  /,  790?. 

His  Excellency  General  Porter  has  transmitted  the  communication  in 
which  you  notify  me  that  at  the  reunion  of  the  members  of  the  Society  of 
the  Cincinnati  on  the  4th  of  July  last,  I  was  unanimously  elected  an 
honorary  member  of  the  society. 

I  highly  appreciate  th^  sentiment  that  has  prompted  the  society  to  confer 
upon  me  this  honor.  It  is  doubly  agreeable  to  me  to  accept  it,  as  recalling 
the  glorious  confraternity  of  arms  which  has  united  the  two  nations  and 
as  a  new  and  especial  token  of  the  ties  of  friendship  which,  since  the 
establishment  of  the  great  American  Republic,  have  never  ceased  to  exist 
between  France  and  the  United  States. 

Believe  me,  General,  with  assurances  of  high  consideration, 

(Signed)  EMII.E  LOUBET. 

After  return  of  the  Mission  to  France  General  Brugere  wrote 
to  the  Hon.  James  M.  Varnum,  under  date  of  December  n, 
1902,  in  which  he  said: 

The  members  of  the  French  Mission,  of  which  I  had  the  honor  to  be 
head,  were  especially  touched  by  the  cordial  reception  extended  to  them 
in  New  York  by  the  members  of  the  Order  of  the  Cincinnati. 

They  will  never  forget  the  charming  reunion  of  the  2yth  of  May,  1902, 
which  showed  how  close  and  lasting  are  the  bonds  which  have  united  the 
United  States  and  France  since  their  soldiers  fought  and  shed  their  blood, 
side  by  side,  under  the  leadership  of  the  great  Washington. 

I  requested  the  Government  of  the  French  Republic  to  do  us  the  favor 
of  sending  to  the  Order  of  the  Cincinnati  some  object  of  art  as  a  testimo 
nial  of  our  warm  sympathy  and  profound  gratitude,  and  I  am  happy  to  be 
able  to  announce  that  my  request  was  favorably  received  and  that  the 
minister  of  foreign  affairs  will  soon  transmit  to  you,  through  our  ambas 
sador,  a  vase  from  the  National  Manufactury  at  Sevres  which  was  selected 
by  myself  and  which  I  beg  you  will  have  placed  among  the  archives  and 
valued  possessions  of  your  Order  as  a  souvenir  of  our  too  brief  sojourn 
with  you. 

In  due  season  this  magnificent  testimonial  was  received. 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 12 


EVENTS  OF  THE  DAY 

FRIDA-Y,  MAY  30 


MEMORIAL  DAY  HONORS  TO  THE  SOL 
DIERS  AND  SAILORS  OF  THE  ALLI 
ANCE— 1741 -NEWPORT  ARTILLERY 
COMPANY-i 902— DECORATION  OF  THE 
GRAVE  OF  DE  TERNAY— SOCIAL  FES 
TIVITIES—LUNCH  AT  THE  CASINO- 
ARRIVAL  AT  BOSTON 


ITINERARY 
Miles 

o    L,v.  New  York      .     ,     .    ,     .'  .     . 

245     Ar.  Newport,  R.  I.  (via  Taunton) 

o    L,v.  Newport,  R.  I.  (via  Taunton) 

69    Ar.  Boston,  Mass 


12. 30  a.  m. 
9.00  a.m. 
3.oop.m. 
5.00  p.m. 


I78 


A  DAY  OF  MEMORIES 


Having  participated  in  the  dedication  of  a  monument  to 
ROCHAMBEAU,  having  laid  a  wreath  at  the  vault  of  Washington, 
having  placed  a  garland  at  the  mausoleum  of  Grant,  the  Mis 
sion  had  now  come  to  lay  a  memorial  tribute  upon  the  grave  of 
the  Chevalier  de  Ternay. 

The  statehouse,  city  hall,  other  public  and  municipal  build 
ings,  and  residences  of  all  classes  from  the  millionaire  summer 
sojourner  to  the  humblest  cottager  were  generously  decorated. 

The  Read  homestead,  which  was  used  by  Count  DE  ROCHAM 
BEAU  as  his  headquarters  during  the  presence  of  his  army  at 
Newport  and  vicinity,  was  tastefully  adorned  with  American 
and  French  flags. 

In  order  to  accommodate  the  large  surrounding  population, 
the  transportation  companies  increased  their  service  and  fixed 
a  very  low  popular  excursion  rate. 

The  several  commands  by  8.30  a.  m.  were  in  the  positions 
assigned  to  them,  the  right  of  the  formation  resting  near 
the  space  in  front  of  the  railway  station.  . 

The  Newport  Artillery  Company,  organized  in  1741,  char 
tered  in  1749,  and  which  served  through  the  war  of  the  Revo 
lution,  acted  as  guard  of  honor.  A  gun  detachment  unlimbered 
stood  near  by  prepared  to  fire  a  salute. 

At  9  a.  m.,  schedule  time,  the  "ROCHAMBEAU  special"  con 
veying  the  Mission  came  bowling  into  the  station.  On  the  out 
side  the  young  and  active  soldiery  of  the  present,  the  fast  aging 
veterans  of  the  past,  and  a  great  crowd  were  in  anxious  wait 
ing  to  begin  the  day  of  flowers  and  memory  to  the  revered  dead 
of  the  war  of  the  rebellion  and  to  the  foreign  dead  of  the  war 
of  the  Revolution. 

179 


180  A  Day  of  Memories 

The  officials  present  charged  with  the  reception  of  the  repre 
sentation  were  Charles  D.  Kimball,  governor  of  Rhode  Island, 
and  staff;  the  president  of  the  Rhode  Island  Society  of  the  Order 
of  the  Cincinnati,  Patrick  J.  Boyle,  mayor  of  Newport.  Among 
those  who  witnessed  the  reception  were  former  Mayor  F.  P. 
Garrettson,  Commander  J.  B.  Murdock,  U.  S.  Navy,  and  Col. 
Addison  Thomas,  representing  the  Rhode  Island  Society 
Sons  of  the  Revolution  and  a  deputation  from  the  Cercle 
Litteraire  Franco- American  of  New  York. 

As  Ambassador  Cambon,  General  Brugere,  and  Admiral 
Fournier  stepped  upon  the  platform  the  governor  gave  them 
a  cordial  hand,  which  he  emphasized  in  the  following  words: 

Mr.  Ambassador,  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  bid  you  welcome  to  the  State 
of  Rhode  Island.  The  State  upon  whose  shores  our  French  allies  landed, 
and  many  of  whose  citizens  were  their  companions  in  arms,  is  compli 
mented  by  this  visit.  As  years  roll  by  and  our  country  increases  in  power 
and  influence  we  add  to  our  appreciation  of  the  services  of  those  to  whose 
valor  our  independence  was  due.  Their  burial  places  are  widely  scattered, 
in  some  cases  unknown.  But  this  State  has  the  honor  of  being  the  last 
resting  place  of  the  French  sailor  to  whose  memory  this  day  you  pay 
tribute.  With  that  ceremony  you  have  the  hearty  sympathy  and  the 
earnest  appreciation  of  the  people  of  Rhode  Island. 

The  French  ambassador  replied  feelingly,  saying  that  upon 
Rhode  Island  soil  rested  the  remains  of  the  hero  who  had  safely 
conveyed  the  army  of  ROCHAMBKAU  across  the  ocean  in  the 
face  of  an  alert  enemy  and  landed  it  without  the  loss  of  a  ship 
or  a  man. 

ASA  BIRD  GARDINER'S  ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME 

The  address  of  welcome  by  the  president  of  the  Rhode  Island 
State  Society,  Asa  Bird  Gardiner, a  was  as  follows: 

Mr.  Ambassador,  General  Brugere,  and  Associates  of  the  Representa 
tion:  The  pleasing  duty  devolves  upon  me,  on  behalf  of  the  Society  of 

aGen.  Asa  Bird  Gardiner,  president  of  the  Rhode  Island  Society  of  the  Cincinnati, 
was  adjutant-general  to  Maj.  Gen.  Winfield  S.  Hancock,  U.  S.  Army,  at  the  Yorktown 
Centennial,  1881,  and  prepared  the  orders  for  the  review  of  20,000  regulars  and  militia 
by  the  President  of  the  United  States.  He  also  had  entire  charge  of  all  the  details 
of  welcome,  escort  military  formation  route  of  march,  parade  review,  reception,  tour  of 
the  city,  banquet,  and  departure.  To  General  Gardiner's  personal  efforts  and  atten 
tion  and  the  ready  cooperation  of  all  participants,  was  due  the  great  success  of  the 
events  of  this  memorable  day. 


A  Day  of  Memories  181 

the  Cincinnati  in  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations, 
to  welcome  you  to  the  State. 

In  October,  1784,  the  Society  welcomed  and  entertained  in  this  city 
their  brother  member,  Major-General  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  and  in 
October,  1881,  welcomed  the  official  representation  sent  by  the  French 
Government  to  attend  the  Centennial  Celebration  of  the  Capitulation  of  a 
British  army  and  squadron  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  on  the  igth  of  October,  1781, 
to  the  allied  forces  of  France  and  the  United  States. 

That  representation  came  to  the  United  States  on  invitation  of  Congress 
as  a  result  of  a  resolution  offered  by  the  present  president  of  the  Rhode 
Island  Cincinnati  and  unanimously  adopted  at  their  annual  meeting, 
held,  pursuant  to  law,  in  the  senate  chamber,  statehouse,  Providence, 
R.  I.,  on  Monday,  July  5,  1880,  to  memorialize  Congress  to  invite  the 
Government  of  France  to  send  a  representation  to  that  National  Centennial 
Celebration. 

Under  direction  of  the  Society,  the  mover  of  the  resolution  presented 
the  memorial  to  Congress,  and  also  submitted  the  matter  to  the  joint  com 
mission  appointed  by  Congress  with  the  result  already  indicated. 

The  Rhode  Island  Cincinnati  have  ever  been  mindful  of  the  alliance  of 
the  6th  of  February,  1778,  with  France,  which  finally  secured  the  inde 
pendence  of  the  United  States  on  a  lasting  foundation. 

The  Rhode  Island  Continental  Line  of  the  Revolution  had,  while  at 
Valley  Forge  on  the  6th  of  May,  1778,  paraded  under  Lafayette  on  those 
bare  Pennsylvania  hills  to  celebrate,  under  Washington's  orders,  the  alli 
ance  with  France,  of  which  information  had  just  been  received. 

Their  intimacy  with  their  French  allies  was  ever  closer  than  that  of  any 
other  American  troops. 

When  Lieutenant-Gen  eral  and  Vice- Admiral  M.  le  Comte  d'Estaing 
landed  his  cooperating  army  above  here  on  Conanicut  Island,  in  Narra- 
gansett  Bay,  after  running  the  target  of  the  British  batteries  in  this  harbor, 
Maj.  Gen.  John  Sullivan's  aid-de-camp  visited  him,  and  it  is  a  pleasure 
to  know  that  in  the  Cincinnati  delegation  which  welcomes  you  is  his 
grandson  and  representative,  Bvt.  Brig.  Gen.  Hazard  Stevens,  an  officer 
who  received  the  medal  of  honor  from  Congress  by  reason  of  having 
most  distinguished  himself  by  gallantry  in  action  during  the  war  of  the 
rebellion. 

One  of  the  original  members  of  the  Rhode  Island  Cincinnati  was  a  lieu 
tenant  in  M.  le  Comte  d'Kstaing's  fleet  and  subsequently,  as  a  capitaine 
de  vaisseau  in  command  of  a  ship  of  the  line,  gave  his  life  in  defense  of 
the  tricolor  flag  of  France. 

His  grandson  is  now  an  hereditary  member  of  this  State  society. 

When  Lieut.  Gen.  M.  le  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  arrived  here  on  the 
*oth  of  July,  1780,  he  found  the  First  Regiment  Rhode  Island  Continental 
Infantry,  under  Col.  Christopher  Greene,  on  duty  in  this  city,  where  it 


1 82  A  Day  of  Memories 

remained  under  ROCHAMBEAU'S  direct  orders  until  December,  1780,  when 
he  ordered  the  regiment  to  proceed  to  West  Point,  "N.  Y. 

Col.  Christopher  Greene's  great-grandson  and  representative,  Mr.  Ed 
ward  Aborn  Greene,  is  here  present  as  an  hereditary  member  of  this  State 
society  to  assist  in  welcoming  you. 

As  before  remarked,  it  was  the  peculiar  good  fortune  of  the  regular 
Rhode  Island  infantry  (always  known  as  "  Continental ")  to  be  more 
intimately  associated  with  the  French  allies  than  any  other  American 
troops,  and  the  Rhode  Island  State  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  was  princi 
pally  composed  of  Rhode  Island  officers. 

Lafayette  declared,  on  the  26th  of  October,  1784,  that  "it  hath  been  the 
lot  of  the  French  army  and  navy  to  receive  particular  favors  in  this  State, 
for  which  they  entertain  an  affectionate  sense  of  gratitude." 

When  the  Auxiliary  Army,  under  ROCHAMBEAU,  joined  the  American 
Continental  Army  under  Washington  on  the  Hudson,  the  Rhode  Island 
Continental  Infantry  were  there  and  were  never  again  separated  from  their 
brethren  of  the  French  army  until  the  latter  marched  to  Boston  via  Rhode 
Island  to  embark. 

Baron  Cromot  du  Bourg,  aid-de-camp  on  ROCHAMBEAU'S  staff,  has 
specially  mentioned  them  in  his  diary. 

They  were  with  their  French  brethren  in  the  field  of  operations  before 
the  city  of  New  York  in  July,  1781,  and  then  proceeded  on  the  long  march 
to  Virginia. 

On  the  14th  of  October,  1781,  General  Washington  directed  an  assault 
on  two  important  British  redoubts,  Nos.  9  and  10. 

The  capture  of  the  first  was  assigned  to  a  detachment  of  the  Auxiliary 
Army  under  that  gallant  veteran,  Marechal  de  Camp  M.  le  Baron  de  Vio- 
me"nil,  who  became  a  member  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  in  France. 

The  capture  of  the  second  was  assigned  to  a  detachment  of  the  Ameri 
can  Army  under  Major-General  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette. 

The  same  night,  on  a  given  signal,  the  two  detachments  leaping  from 
the  trenches  emulously  strove,  under  a  tremendous  fire,  to  accomplish 
their  allotted  task. 

The  leading  company  of  Lafayette's  command  was  from  the  Rhode 
Island  Continentals  under  Capt.  Stephen  Olney,  who  was  the  first  man  to 
mount  the  intrenchments  of  redoubt  No.  10  and  was  dangerously  wounded, 
losing  an  arm. 

His  grandson  and  representative  in  the  Cincinnati  and  secretary  of  this 
State  society,  Mr.  George  Washington  Olney,  assists  in  welcoming  you 
to-day. 

Both  redoubts  were  captured  in  the  most  heroic  manner,  and  many  of 
the  gallant  French  officers  who  participated  in  the  assault  subsequently 
became  members  of  the  Order  of  the  Cincinnati,  in  whose  institution  of 
1783  a  principal  object  was  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the  alliance  with 
France  which  brought  such  lasting  glory  and  honor  to  both  countries  and 


A  Day  of  Memories       .  '  183 

which  caused  such  enduring  friendships  between  the  officers  of  the  two 
services. 

Your  arrival  here  permits  the  Rhode  Island  Cincinnati  to  express  their 
sentiments  of  respect  and  esteem. 

On  their  rolls  have  been  and  are  names  of  hereditary  members  whose 
praepositi  belonged  to  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  in  France. 

Among  these  may  be  mentioned  the  late  Marquis  Duquesne,  whose 
ancestor  was  the  great  admiral  under  Louis  XIV. 

Three  generations  of  this  family  have  been  members  of  the  Order  of 
the  Cincinnati. 

The  late  brigadier-general  of  Russian  cavalry,  the  Marquis  de  Tra- 
versay,  of  this  State  society,  was  grandson  of  a  capitaine  de  vaisseau  in 
France,  an  original  member  of  the  Cincinnati  there,  who  was  sent  to 
Russia  by  Louis  XVI,  at  request  of  the  Czarina  Catharine,  to  instruct  the 
Russian  navy  and  rose  to  be  an  admiral. 

The  late  Marquis  de  Rochambeau,  of  this  State  society,  whose  second 
son  is  in  your  representation,  was  the  third  of  the  name  to  be  members  of 
the  order. 

The  Count  d'Ollone,  an  hereditary  member  of  this  State  society,  is 
to-day  serving  France  as  a  captain  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  of 
Dragoons. 

His  late  father  was  a  member  of  this  State  society,  and  his  grandfather, 
Marechal  de  Camp  M.  le  Comte  d'Ollone,  formerly  of  the  Auxiliary  Army, 
was  an  original  member  in  France. 

Another  hereditary  member  in  this  State  society  is  the  Count  Von 
Stedingk,  a  captain  of  the  Royal  Life  Guards  of  Sweden,  whose  grand 
father  of  same  name  was  a  colonel  in  the  Regiment  Royal  Suedois  of  the 
French  army,  and  was  badly  wounded  at  the  siege  of  Savannah,  under 
M.  le  Comte  d'Estaing,  on  the  9th  of  October,  1779. 

He  became  an  original  member  of  the  society  in  France,  and  afterwards 
a  field  marshal  in  Sweden. 

Thus  it  will  be  perceived  that  in  this  State  Society  of  the  Military  Order 
of  the  Cincinnati,  founded  by  Washington  and  the  French  and  American 
officers,  the  alliance  of  1778-1783  is  ever  peculiarly  cherished  and  proper 
descendants  of  original  French  members  always  find  here  an  affectionate 
welcome. 

Indeed,  for  the  annual  meeting  to  be  held  pursuant  to  law  in  the  senate 
chamber,  statehouse,  in  this  city,  on  the  4th  of  July  proximo,  there  is 
pending  the  application  of  the  great-grandson  of  Vice-Admiral  M.  le  Comte 
de  Bougainville,  senator  of  France,  grand  officer  of  the  Legion  of  Honor, 
and  fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  of  London,  who  served  in  the  French 
navy  successively  in  Rhode  Island  with  M.  le  Comte  d'Estaing  and  then 
at  Yorktown  with  M.  le  Comte  de  Grasse. 

His  son,  Rear-Admiral  M.  le  Baron  de  Bougainville,  became  an  heredi 
tary  member  in  France. 


184  A  Day  of  Memories 

Thus,  gentlemen  of  the  representation,  you  will  perceive  that  the  asso 
ciation  of  this  State  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  with  their  French  brethren 
has  been  maintained  since  1783,  and  they  trust  that  your  visit  to  the 
United  States  will  be  both  memorable  and  enjoyable. 

Mayor  Boyle  then  welcomed  the  guests  in  behalf  of  the  city. 
After  these  formalities  and  felicitations  the  visiting  "guests" 
were  shown  to  their  carriages.  As  they  appeared  they  were 
greeted  with  loud  huzzas,  the  escort  of  honor  standing  at 
present  and  the  artillery  firing  a  salute. 

The  ladies  of  the  party  were  taken  in  charge  by  Miss  Stratten 
and  were  driven  immediately  to  the  grave. 

PARADE    IN    MOTION 

The  column  then  moved  in  the  following  order: 

Marshal  of  the  day:  Col.  H.  C.  Hasbrouck,  Artillery  Corps. 
Staff:  J.  I.  Greene,  G.  A.  R.,  chief  of  staff;  Capt.  H.  C.  Schumm,  Artil 
lery  Corps,  adjutant;  Col.  A.  K.  McMahon,  Maj.  L.  W.  Crampton,  Medical 
Corps,  U.  S.  Army;  Henry  Bull,  John  B.  Mason,  and  George  A.  Pritchard, 
representing  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  Lieut.  S.  I.  Hazard,  Newport  Artillery. 

Newport  Band. 
Newport  Artillery  Company. 

(Col.  John  D.  Richardson,  commanding;  Lieut.  Frank  P.  King,  adjutant). 
Staff:  Surgeon  C.  F.  Barker,  Assistant  Surgeon  Charles  M.  Cole,  Pay 
master  George  W.  Tilley,  Chaplain  Emery  H.  Porter. 

First  Company :  Lieut.  Col.  Edward  F.  Cooper,  commanding;  Capt.  F.  S. 
Patterson. 

Second  Company:  Maj.  George  S.  Flagg,  commanding;  Lieut.  S.  D. 
Harvey. 

Carriages  containing  the  French  mission,  the  President's  committee. 
Governor  Kimball  and  staff,  city  council,  reception  committee,  and  dele' 
gates  from  patriotic  societies. 

Coast  Artillery. 
(Maj.  John  P.  Wisser,  Artillery  Corps,  commanding.) 

Seventh  Band,  Artillery  Corps. 

Seventy-eighth  Company:  First  Lieut.  C.  C.  Pulis;  Second  Lieut.  Allan 
Lefort. 

Seventy-ninth  Company:  Capt.  H.  G.  Bishop;  First  Lieut.  H.H.  Sheen; 
Second  Lieut.  A.  L.  Fuller. 

Ninety -seventh  Company:  Capt.  F.  G.  Mauldin;  First  Lieut.  H.  C.  Mer- 
riam;  Second  Lieut.  F.  W.  Ralston. 

One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Company:  First  Lieut.  M.  H.  Barry;  Second 
Lieut.  L.  C.  Crawford. 


A  Day  of  Memories  185 

Training  Station  Battalion. 

(Lieut.   A.   Bronson,   commanding;  Boatswain  J.   E.   Murphy,   adjutant; 
Second  Lieut.  E.  T.  Fryer,  commanding  Company  of  Marines. ) 

Newport  Naval  Reserve. 
(Lieut.  Charles  E.  Lawton,  commanding.) 
The  parade  numbered  2,500  men. 

The  procession,  greeted  everywhere  by  enthusiastic  crowds. 
At  the  quarters  of  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBBAU  in  1780-81  a  score 
of  little  girls  in  white  assembled  on  the  steps  waving  flags  and 
shouting  Vive  la  France.  As  the  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU 
drove  up  Florence  Hodson,  stepping  to  the  side  of  his  carriage, 
presented  him  with  a  bouquet  of  pure  white  roses.  The  Comte, 
reaching  out,  raised  the  child,  kissing  her  tenderly.  The  inci 
dent  was  received  with  the  wildest  plaudit. 

A  HERO'S  GRAVE 

At  the  Trinity  Church  the  column  halted  to  give  time  for 
the  ceremonies  at  the  grave  of  Chevalier  de  Ternay. 

The  official  representation,  having  left  their  carriages,  pro 
ceeded  in  the  order  of  precedence  of  its  individuals  to  the 
churchyard  gate,  where  they  were  received  by  the  wardens  and 
vestrymen  and  escorted  to  the  grave  of  the  Chevalier,  which 
lies  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  burying  ground  appertaining 
to  Trinity  parish. 

The  representatives  of  France  reverently  gathered  about  the 
grave,  where  a  Roman  Catholic  burial  service,  first  in  Latin, 
then  in  English,  and  then  in  French,  was  conducted  by  the  Rev. 
William  D.  Meenan,  rector  of  St.  Mary's  parish. 

All  heads  bowed  as  General  Brugere  placed  upon  the  tomb 
of  de  Ternay  the  wreath  of  laurel  sent  by  President  Loubet  in 
the  name  of  France,  thus  performing  a  second  duty  of  the 
Mission. 

Other  wreaths  were  placed  b}^  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church,  and  the  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution. 

Before  the  company  withdrew  to  pass  inside  the  church  to 
view  the  tablet  placed  there  by  the  King  of  France  Col.  Addison 
Thomas  handed  to  General  Brugere  an  address  in  French, 


1 86  A  Day  of  Memories 

announcing  that  the  Rhode  Island  society  of  the  Sons  of  the 
Revolution  had  taken  appropriate  action  by  the  adoption  of  a 
resolution  providing  for  the  decoration  in  the  future,  on  Memo 
rial  Day,  of  the  grave  of  Admiral  de  Ternay  in  recognition  of 
his  services  in  the  war  of  the  American  Revolution  and  in  com 
memoration  of  the  visit  of  the  French  Mission  to  perform  that 
token  of  remembrance  by  direction  of  the  President  of  France. 

General  Brugere  upon  ascertaining  the  contents  of  the  address 
expressed  his  appreciation  in  appropriate  terms,  laying  stress 
upon  the  obligation  assumed  as  another  mark  of  the  feeling  of 
gratitude  for  the  services  of  the  French  soldiers  and  sailors  in 
America  when  the  States  were  in  the  throes  of  a  desperate 
struggle  for  independence. 

The  entire  party  entered  the  church. 

DK  TBRNAY  TABLET 

The  slab  was  designed  for  the  interior  of  the  church,  but  as  it 
could  not  be  there  accommodated  it  was  placed  over  the  grave. 

The  inscription  in  Latin,  having  been  sharply  cut,  is  clearly 
legible.  It  reads  as  follows: 

In  the  name  of  God,  Charles  Lewis  d'Arsac  de  Ternay,  knight  of  the 
Order  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  though  the  vows  of  the  order  he  had  never 
acknowledged,  descended  from  an  ancient  and  noble  family  of  Bretagne, 
one  of  the  admirals  of  the  King's  fleets,  a  citizen,  a  soldier,  a  chief,  served 
ably,  faithful  to  his  King  and  to  his  country,  for  forty-two  years,  now 
rests  beneath  this  marble,  happily  resolute.  In  the  years  1760  and  1761, 
after  the  Croiafiah  battle,  with  painful  difficulty,  amidst  the  weapons  of 
enemies,  he  rescued  and  brought  off  from  dangerous  whirlpools  the  royal 
fleet,  dispersed  near  the  innavigable  eddies  of  the  river  of  Vicenza,  and 
gave  his  ships  the  stations  he  wished  without  any  damage.  In  the  year 
1762  he  invaded  Newfoundland,  in  America.  In  1772,  having  resigned  his 
command,  he  received  the  regency  of  Bourbon  and  the  French  islands 
adjacent,  in  which  office  for  seven  years,  to  the  emolument  of  France  and 
the  happiness  of  the  colonies,  he  was  assiduously  faithful.  Being  ordered 
by  His  Most  Christian  Majesty  in  the  year  1780  with  assistance  to  the 
United  States,  engaged  in  the  defense  of  liberty,  he  arrived  in  Rhode 
Island,  where,  while  he  was  prepared  to  encounter  the  dangers  of  his 
command,  to  the  inconsolable  grief  of  his  fellow-soldiers,  to  the  sincere 
sorrow  of  the  United  States,  he  expired  in  this  city,  regretted  by  all  the 
good,  but  particularly  lamented  by  those  to  whom  he  was  related,  De 
cember  15,  MDCCI.XXX,  aged  58.  His  Most  Christian  Majesty,  strictly 


A  Day  of  Memories  187 

just  to  merit,  in  order  that  the  memory  of  this  illustrious  man  might 
be  consecrated  to  posterity,  hath  ordered  this  monument  to  be  erected, 
MDCCLXXXIII.  « 

Escorted  as  before,  the  procession  then  proceeded  to  Belle vue 
avenue  and  thence  to  the  Casino. 

REVIEW 

The  members  of  the  Mission  and  the  official  hosts  of  the 
occasion  having  taken  their  places  on  an  emblematically  deco 
rated  stand  at  the  Casino,  the  entire  command  was  again  put 
in  motion,  moving  on  Bellevue  avenue  in  column  of  companies 
or  platoons,  in  which  formation  they  marched  in  review  before 
General  Brugere,  general  of  division  and  vice-president  of  the 
supreme  council  of  war  of  France. 

The  end  of  the  review  terminated  the  proceedings  connected 
with  the  memory  of  de  Ternay. 

«  After  the  close  of  the  war  and  the  return  of  the  French  troops  and  ships  to  France 
the  King  (1785)  had  erected  over  the  grave  a  monument  of  black  Egyptian  marble 
suitably  inscribed  in  gold. 

Below  the  inscription  and  between  the  brackets  was  an  escutcheon  charged  with  the 
arms  of  the  Knights  Hospitallars  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem. 

The  slab,  though  designed  for  the  interior  of  the  church,  was  necessarily  placed  out 
side  on  the  west  of  the  gate  owing  to  lack  of  space  within. 

In  1794,  on  account  of  the  injurious  effects  of  exposure,  its  position  was  changed  at  the 
expense  of  the  officers  of  the  French  frigate  Meduse,  then  cruising  in  American  waters. 
In  1874  (February  n)  Congress  appropriated  $800  "  to  defray  the  expense  of  repair 
ing  and  protecting  from  decay  the  monument  erected  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  to  the  memory 
of  the  Chevalier  de  Ternay,  the  commander  of  the  French  naval  forces  in  aid  of  the 
American  Revolution,"  to  be  expended  under  the  direction  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
This  act  of  international  courtesy  was  the  theme  of  an  agreeable  correspondence 
between  the  two  Governments. 

The  restoration  was  placed  in  the  charge  of  Marquis  de  Noailles,  French  envoy  to 
the  United  States  and  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  officers  of  DE  ROCHAMBEAU'S  army. 
The  slab  was  transferred  to  the  vestibule  of  the  church,  where  it  is  now  carefully  and 
suitably  protected. 
At  the  same  time  a  granite  stone  was  placed  upon  the  grave  with  this  inscription: 

Beneath  this  stone, 
placed  in  the  year  1873, 

lies 
Charles  I,ouis  d'Arsac  de  Ternay, 

who  died  in  the  year  1780. 

Beneath  the  port  of  the  church  near  by 

the  ancient  monument, 

restored  and  sheltered, 

lies  removed. 

Underneath  the  inscription  a  royal  crown  surmounting  a  double-headed  eagle  is  in 
closed  by  the  collar  and  star  of  the  Knights  of  Malta,  supported  by  a  background  of 
flags  and  swords. 


1 88  A  Day  of  Memories 

The  "guests"  reentering  their  carriages  were  driven  about 
the  city  to  points  of  interest. 

Upon  returning  to  the  Casino  about  one  hundred  sat  down  to 
a  luncheon  given  by  the  President's  committee.  The  tables 
were  arranged  in  the  balconies,  which  were  prettily  draped. 
The  proceedings  were  entirely  informal,  there  being  but  three 
toasts  without  speeches.  Mr.  Peirce,  chairman  of  the  President's 
commission  "Emile  Loubet,  President  of  France;"  Governor 
Kimball  to  "Theodore  Roosevelt,  President  of  the  United 
States; ' '  Ambassador  Cambon  to  the  ' '  State  of  Rhode  Island. ' ' 

Preliminary  to  the  proposed  entertainment,  a  cable  message 
was  sent  to  the  President  of  the  French  Republic  on  the  subject, 
begging  him  to  accept  for  himself  and  for  the  Government  of 
France,  on  behalf  of  the  Order,  "the  expression  of  their 
respectful  and  fraternal  regard." 

President  Loubet  was  at  the  time  absent  from  France,  but  on 
his  return  to  Paris,  on  the  3ist  of  May,  1902,  His  Excellency 
M.  Delcasse,  minister  of  foreign  affairs,  cabled  reply  to  the 
consul-general  of  France  at  the  port  of  New  York  as  follows: 

The  President  of  the  Republic  directs  you  to  express  to  the  members  of 
the  Order  of  the  Cincinnati  his  sincere  thanks  for  the  kindly  sentiments 
which  they  have  expressed  to  him. 

The  banner  of  the  society  was  designed  in  1786  by  Maj.  Gen. 
Frederick  William  Augustus,  Baron  de  Steuben;  Knight  of  the 
Order  of  Fidelity,  and  Inspector- General  of  the  American  Army. 

The  Providence  Gazette  of  December  27,  1780,  contained  the 
following  announcement  of  the  death  of  De  Ternay: 

NEWPORT,  December  22  [1780] . 

Last  Friday  morning  [December  15]  died  here  His  Excellency  Charles 
Louis  de  Ternay,  Knight  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  late  governor  of  the 
Islands  of  France  and  Bourbon  and  chief  commander  of  the  French 
squadron  in  the  American  seas.  His  talents,  zeal,  and  distinguished 
services  had  merited  him  the  confidence  of  his  Government  and  country. 
His  remains  were  the  next  day  interred  in  Trinity  churchyard  in  this 
town,  attended  with  military  honors,  etc.  The  command  of  the  fleet,  by 
the  death  of  his  excellency,  devolves  on  M.  Destouches,  captain  and 
brigadier  of  the  naval  army,  an  officer  in  high  estimation  among  all  ranks 
of  the  French  navy  and  who  particularly  distinguished  himself  in  the 
battle  of  Ouessant. 


AT  BOSTON 


Two  hours  later  the  ROCHAMBKAU  special  arrived  at  Boston. 
When  the  visitors  stepped  from  the  train  Adjutant-  General 
Dalton,  representing  the  governor;  Secretary  Curran,  the 
mayor;  M.  Bailly-Blanchard,  the  consulate  of  France,  and  Prof. 
Charles  P.  L,ebon,  Kdward  L.  Osgood,  Joseph  Frammand,  and 
Marshal  E.  L,ebon,  the  reception  committee,  immediately  gath 
ered  around  General  Brugere  as  the  chief  of  the  Mission.  A 
few  minutes  of  introductions  and  greetings  followed,  when  ttye 
guests  and  officials  in  attendance  left  the  station  for  their 
carriages. 

BOSTON'S  GREETING 

The  scene  outside  of  Back  Bay  station,  judging  from  the 
crowd  of  2,000  or  3,000  persons  gathered  in  the  vicinity  of  its 
main  exit,  might  for  the  moment  have  been  mistaken  for 
France,  rather  than  the  United  States,  there  being  so  large  a 
contingent  of  the  visitors'  countrymen.  '  '  Vive  la  France,  '  ' 
"Vive  la  Republique,"  were  vehemently  intermingled  with 
the  popular  manifestation  of  '  '  huzzas  '  '  and  '  '  vivats.  '  ' 

The  French  part  of  the  salutations  were  sufficiently  effusive 
to  attract  the  attention  of  General  Brugere,  who,  in  response, 
instead  of  seating  himself,  assumed  the  attitude  of  a  soldier, 
his  right  hand  to  his  cap  in  salute,  holding  his  position  until 
the  carriage  he  occupied  (the  first  in  the  line)  passed  beyond 
the  crowd. 

The  same  attentions  were  bestowed  on  the  occupants  of  each 
of  the  12  conveyances  as  they  drove  by  under  escort  of  a  detail 
of  mounted  police. 

Arriving  at  the  Somerset,  their  home  while  in  the  city,  they 
passed  within  the  portals,  beneath  the  colors  of  the  two 

Republics. 

189 


190  At  Boston 

AMERICAN    BEAUTY   ROSES    FOR   THE    LADIES 

They  were  also  made  welcome  by  the  simultaneous  arrival  of 
six  immense  bouquets  of  American  Beauty  roses,  five  of  which 
were  recognitions  from  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution, 
one  for  the  boudoir  of  each  of  the  ladies  in  the  party,  and  the 
sixth  from  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution  for  the 
decoration  of  the  reception  room. 

The  appropriateness  of  the  compliment  made  a  very  sensible 
impression  upon  the  visitors  in  general  and  the  ladies  in 
particular. 

After  dinner  Comte  and  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau  received 
Mrs.  Greenleaf  Simpson,  vice-president  general,  and  Miss  Marie 
Ware  L,aughlin,  vice  State  regent,  who  accorded  them  a  wel 
come  in  behalf  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution. 

Admiral  Fournier  received  a  call  from  Rear- Admiral  Johnson, 
commanding  the  Charlestown  Navy- Yard. 

For  the  evening's  diversion,  the  visitors,  dividing  into  three 
groups,  accepted  invitations  to  the  Tremont  and  Boston  theaters, 
and  Symphony  Hall,  where  the  Pictures  of  Paris  concert  was 
an  attraction. 

THE  "GAULOIS"  OFF  BOSTON  UGHT 

As  soon  as  the  incoming  fleet  was  sighted  from  the  navy- 
yard,  the  navy-yard  tug  Iwana,  conveying  Rear- Admiral  Mor 
timer  L,.  Johnson,  commandant  of  the  yard,  shot  through  the 
Narrows,  steaming  rapidly  toward  the  flagship  to  make  his 
official  call.  The  i3-gun  salute  given  the  commandant  by  the 
Olympia  as  he  went  over  the  side  to  return  ashore  was  the  first 
notice  Boston  had  of  the  arrival  of  the  Gaulois  and  her  escort. 
Admiral  Fournier  having  come  by  land,  returned  no  calls  from 
the  Gaulois.  At  once  the  numerous  pleasure  yachts  which 
dotted  the  harbor — it  being  Memorial  Day — pointed  seaward  to 
get  a  closer  view  of  the  visitors,  even  though  the  Gaulois  was 
yet  hull  down  on  the  horizon. 

Soon  after  the  departure  of  the  calling  Admiral,  the  Olympia 
and  Kearsarge  moved  into  the  lower  harbor  to  be  in  position  to 


At  Boston  191 

welcome  the  Gaulois  to  the  port,  the  Olympia  anchoring  in 
President  Roads  abreast  the  island  for  the  night  and  the 
Kearsarge  dropping  anchor  just  inside  the  Narrows.  After  a 
short  time,  however,  the  latter  weighed  anchor  and  stood  out  to 
sea  to  pick  up  the  Gaulois.  The  tide  beginning  to  ebb,  the 
Gaulois  preferred  not  to  enter,  but  anchored  outside;  the 
Kearsarge  standing  by  her  until  morning,  when  they  joined 
the  Olympia. 

THE    "GAULOIS"    ENTERS   HARBOR 

The  Gaulois,  escorted  by  the  Kearsarge,  entered  the  harbor  of 
Boston  about  dawn  on  May  30  and  anchored  in  President  Roads 
abreast  of  the  Olympia. 

At  8  a.  m.  the  colors  were  sent  aloft  and  a  salute  of  21  guns 
fired  with  small  rapid-fire  guns  on  the  mainmast  fighting  top, 
in  hcfnor  of  the  port,  which  was  promptly  answered  from  the 
guns  of  Fort  Warren. 

At  nooji  the  ship  was  open  to  visitors,  who  went  aboard  in  a 
steady  stream  for  several  hours,  although  the  vessel  was  lying 
some  distance  from  the  shore,  owing  to  its  great  draft. 
•  The  usual   calls  of   naval  etiquette,   for  convenience,  were 
exchanged  on  shore. 

In  the  evening  the  Gaulois  was  brilliantly  illuminated  with 
an  outline  of  electric  lights  and  two  set  pieces  between  the 
fore  and  main  masts,  one  representing  an  American  eagle, 
the  other  a  cock,  the  emblem  of  the  ship. 


EVENTS  OF  THE  DAY 

SATURDAY,  MAY  31 


BAY  STATE  AND  BUNKER  HILL  MEM 
ORIES—ACADEMIC  ATTENTIONS  — A 
COMMONWEALTH  LUNCH  AND  MU 
NICIPAL  DINNER  — POSTPRANDIAL 
IMPRESSIONS 


192 


BOSTON'S  HOSPITALITY 


The  final  expression  of  American  hospitality  to  the  repre 
sentatives  of  the  Government  and  people  of  France  as  guests  of 
the  Government  and  people  of  the  United  States  ended  in  a 
day  of  glorious  sunshine  and  in  object  lessons  of  reminiscent 
Revolutionary  scenes  in  a  setting  of  contemporary  activities, 
represented  by  Massachusetts,  the  State  of  Lexington;  Boston, 
the  city  of  Bunker  Hill;  and  Harvard,  the  University  of  the 
earliest  training  of  men  of  action  in  the  contention  with  the 
Crown. 

CALL   ON   THE    GOVERNOR 

At  10  o'clock  in  the  morning,  in  the  hands  of  the  mayor's 
committee  and  under  escort  of  the  National  Lancers,  Capt. 
Frank  C.  Neal,  the  members  of  the  Mission,  and  the  civil  and 
unofficial  associates,  accompanied  by  the  President's  com 
mission,  began  the  day  of  honor  and  hospitality  by  a  call  of 
ceremony  upon  Governor  Winthrop  Murray  Crane  at  the  state- 
house.  That  official,  surrounded  by  his  military  staff  in  the 
executive  chamber,  gave  the  callers,  who  were  presented  by 
Colonel  Binghain  of  the  President's  commission,  a  warmth  of 
welcome  which,  despite  the  occasion  of  outward  formality,  at 
once  placed  all  at  ease. 

After  the  greeting  the  guests  were  shown  through  Memorial 
Hall,  General  Brugere  and  Comte  de  Rochambeau  expressing 
great  admiration  of  its  mural  paintings  and  making  particular 
reference  to  the  beauty  of  design  and  finish.  M.  Renouard 
manifested  his  appreciation  by  making  a  series  of  sketch  notes 
as  souvenirs. 

i93 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1  -  13 


194  Boston's  Hospitality 

From  the  statehouse  the  guests,  passing  through  the  crowd- 
lined  thoroughfare,  proceeded  to  the  city  hall,  where  they  ar 
rived  about  ii  a.  m.  From  the  iron  gate  to  the  main  portal  on 
the  way  on  either  side  were  towering  palms  and  rubber  trees. 
The  facades  of  the  buildings  were  a  gorgeous  dress  of  tricolors 
of  the  two  Republics  in  streamers  and  festooned  flags,  Old 
Glory  flaunting  in  the  breeze  over  the  distinguished  procession 
as  it  ascended  the  granite  steps  and  passed  within  the  entrance, 
led  by  the  secretary  to  the  mayor,  to  the  executive  chamber, 
where  that  official  was  in  readiness  to  receive  them.  The 
corridors  as  they  passed  were  crowded  with  an  enthusiastic 
group  of  officials  and  their  friends. 

RECEIVED    BY   THE   MAYOR 

As  Ambassador  Cambon  drew  near  he  was  accorded  a  most 
hearty  greeting,  which  was  extended  to  all  the  others,  making 
them  feel  quite  at  home  in  America's  noted  municipality. 

The  entire  party  now  passed  out  of  the  building  and  ascended 
the  stand  in  front  of  the  central  part  of  the  hall  to  witness  one 
of  the  most  interesting  and  the  closing  feature  of  the  busy  day 
of  entertainment,  the  parade  of  three  regiments  of  the  city's 
schoolboy  soldiers,  numbering  about  2,500,  and  their  review 
by  the  mayor  and  notables  of  a  foreign  land. 

SCHOOLBOY   SOLDIERS    IN   REVIEW 

The  receiving  group,  Mayor  Collins  in  the  center,  Ambas 
sador  Cambon  and  General  Chalendar  on  the  right  and  General 
Brugere  and  Vice- Admiral  Fournier  on  the  left,  occupied  a 
position  in  front,  with  their  associates  and  friends  gathered 
around. 

The  boys  received  an  ovation  of  cheers  en  route  and  the 
plaudits  of  the  foreign  experts  en  review.  The  latter  were 
deeply  interested  in  the  evident  success  of  combining  public 
school  education  with  military  training.  They  were  not  sur 
prised  that  Americans  so  readily  made  superior  soldiers. 

As  an  incident,  the  French  officers,  with  military  punctilio, 
returned  the  cadets'  salutes  and  stood  at  attention  to  the  flag, 


Boston's  Hospitality  195 

each  with  his  right  hand  at  the  visor  of  his  cap,  until  it  had 
passed.     The  Americans  raised  their  caps  and  so  held  them. 

Resuming  their  carriages,  a  visit  was  made  to  the  Public 
Library,  which  elicited  the  most  enthusiastic  expressions  of 
admiration.  They  then  returned  to  their  hotel,  where  Gov 
ernor  Crane,  accompanied  by  the  members  of  his  staff — Adju 
tant  Dalton,  Generals  Blood,  Dewey,  and  Wellington,  Colonels 
White  and  Cappel,  Lieutenant- Colonels  Soutter,  Gihon,  and 
Hawkins,  and  Majors  Proctor  and  Colt — arrived  at  almost  the 
same  moment  to  make  a  return  official  call.  A  few  minutes 
later  Mayor  Collins  appeared,,  but  unattended,  to  perform  the 
same  duty  of  ceremonial  etiquette. 

> 
GOVERNOR'S  LUNCHEON 

During  the  brief  interim  of  mutual  felicitation  and  presenta 
tion  in  the  Imperial  Room,  at  12.30  Governor  Crane,  escorting 
Ambassador  Cambon,  led  the  way  to  the  gorgeous  ballroom, 
where  luncheon,  with  the  Governor  as  host,  was  provided. 

The  apartment  was  beautifully  decorated.  Southern  smilax 
and  northern  laurel  festooned  the  frieze,  bay  trees,  palms,  and 
Australian  ferns  skirted  the  dado.  At  the  head  of  the  table 
stood  a  large  vase  of  Governor  Crane  carnations,  and  at  either 
end  a  panier  of  Lawsons,  with  lilies  of  the  valley  between. 
On  the  side  tables  were  baskets  of  Bride  roses  and  varicolored 
lilies.  The  tables  were  strewn  with  asparagus  sprays,  galaxia 
leaves,  long-stemmed  roses,  and  lilies. 

When  in  array  around  the  festive  board,  at  Governor  Crane's 
right,  in  sequence,  sat — 

Ambassador  Cambon. 
Vice- Admiral  Fournier. 
Lieutenant-Governor  Bates. 
Mayor  Collins. 
General  Chalendar. 
Colonel  Bingham. 

At  his  left- 
General  Bruge"re. 
Third  Assistant  Secretary  of  State  Peirce. 


196  Boston's  Hospitality 

M.  Croiset. 

Collector  Lyman. 

Captain  de  Surgy,  of  the  Gaulois. 

President  Eliot,  of  Harvard  College. 

At  the  other  tables  sat — 

Commander  Raymond  P.  Rodgers,  U.  S.  Navy. 

Capt.  Pouilloiie  de  Saint-Mars,  French  Artillery. 

Comte  de  Rochambeau. 

James  J.  Myers,  speaker  of  the  house  of  representatives. 

Rufus  A.  Soule,  president  of  the.  senate. 

Captain  Lasson,  attache"  of  the  general's  staff  of  the  governor  of  Paris. 

M.  Lagrave,  representing  the  minister  of  commerce. 

Capt.  Joseph  N.  Hemphill,  U.  S.  Navy,  commanding  U.  S.  S.  Kearsarge. 

Prof.  Charles  H.  Grandgent,  chairman  of  the  French  department  of 
Harvard  College. 

Col.  P.  C.  Pope,  U.  S.  Marine  Corps,  aid  to  Rear-Admiral  Johnson. 

M.  Jean  Guillemin,  subdirector  of  the  cabinet  of  the  foreign  ministry. 

Vicomte  de  Chambrun,  attache"  of  the  French  embassy  at  Berlin. 

Prof.  Philippe  Marcon,  Harvard  University. 

Prof.  Alphonse  Brun,  Harvard  University. 

M.  Renouard,  painter  and  engraver,  representing  the  ministry  of  public 
instruction. 

James  H.  Doyle,  chairman  of  the  board  of  aldermen. 

Henry  D.  Yerxa,  councilor. 

Arthur  A.  Maxwell,  councilor. 

Brig.  Gen.  Robert  A.  Blood,  surgeon-general. 

Brig.  Gen.  Henry  S.  Dewey,  judge-advocate-general. 

David  J.  Robinson,  councilor. 

Lieutenant-Commander  le  Vicomte  de  Faramond,  naval  attache"  to  the 
French  embassy. 

Brig.  Gen.  Fred  W.  Wellington,  commissary -general. 

Edward  S.  Bradford,  treasurer  of  the  Commonwealth. 

Henry  E.  Turner,  auditor  of  the  Commonwealth. 

Lieut.  Andre"  Sauvaire-Jourdon,  aid-de-camp,  Vice-Admiral  Fournier. 

Arthur  W.  Dolan,  chairman  common  council. 

Herbert  Parker,  attorney-general  of  the  Commonwealth. 

Julius  H.  Appleton,  councilor. 

Lieutenant  le  Baron  Maximilien  Reinach  de  Werth,  aid-de-camp  to  Vice- 
Admiral  Fournier. 

Lieut.  Col.  Edward  J.  Gihon,  staff  of  the  commander  in  chief. 

Maj.  Paul  R.  Hawkins,  staff  of  the  commander  in  chief. 

Edward  F.  Hamlin,  executive  secretary. 

Maj.  Charles  S.  Proctor,  staff  of  the  commander  in  chief. 


Boston's  Hospitality  197 

Capt.  Etienne  Fillonneau,  aid-de-camp  to  General  Brug£re. 

Rear-Admiral  Francis  J.  Higginson,  U.  S.  Navy. 

Edwin  Morgan,  secretary  to  the  President's  commission. 

Lieut.  Col.  Meaux  Saint  Marc,  aid-de-camp  and  personal  representative 

of  M.  Emile  Loubet,  President  of  the  French  Republic. 
Louis  Hermite,  secretary  of  the  French  embassy. 
Rear-Admiral  Mortimer  L.  Johnson,  commander  United  States  navy-yard, 

Charlestown,  Mass. 

Capt.  Henry  W.  Lyon,  U.  S.  Navy,  commander  U.  S.  S.  Olympia. 
Comte  Sahune  de  Lafayette. 

Commander  E.  K.  Moore,  U.  S.  Navy,  aid  to  Rear-Admiral  Johnson. 
Col.  John  L.  Tiernon,  Artillery  Corps,  U.  S.  Army,  commanding  defenses 

of  Boston. 

M.  Victor  Ayguesparsse,  attache"  to  the  French  embassy. 
M.  de  Margerie,  counselor  of  the  French  embassy. 
Duncan  Bailly-Blanchard,  vice-consul  of  France. 
Prof.  Morin  la  Meslee. 

Capt.  A.  W.  Chase,  aid  to  Colonel  Tiernon. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Hermite,  commander  of  the  Sixth  Foot  Artillery. 
Brig.  Gen.  W.  H.  Brigham,  inspector-general. 
Jeremiah  J.  McNamara,  councilor. 
S.  Herbert  Howe,  councilor. 
Robert  de  Billy  >  secretary  of  embassy. 
William  M.  Olin,  secretary  of  the  Commonwealth. 
M.  Lebon,  French  attache  to  Mayor  Collins. 
Lucius  Field,  councilor. 

Captain  Vignal,  military  attache"  to  the  French  embassy. 
Lieut.  Col.  James  T.  Soutter,  staff  of  the  commander  in  chief. 
Lieut.  George  R.  Evans,  U.  S.  Navy,  aid  to  Rear-Admiral  Higginson. 
Lieut.  Col.  Arthur  B.  Denny,  staff  of  the  commander  in  chief. 
Jules  Bceufve,  councilor  of  the  French  embassy. 
James  D.  Colt,  staff  of  the  commander  in  chief. 

Lieut.  Mark  L.  Bristol,  U.  S.  Navy,  aid  to  Rear-Admiral  Higginson. 
Lieut.  Col.  William  C.  Capelle,  staff  of  the  commander  in  chief. 
Lieut.  Gustave  le  Jay,  aid-de-camp  to  Vice- Admiral  Fournier. 
Francis  Hurtubis,  executive  stenographer. 
Col.  James  G.  White,  staff  of  the  commander  in  chief. 
Brigadier-General  Dalton,  adjutant-general  of  Massachusetts. 
John  B.  Smith,  private  secretary  to  Governor  Crane. 

The  morning  repast  was  unaccompanied  by  speeches.  The 
honors  due  the  powers  represented  were  proposed  in  three 
formal  toasts.  By  the  Governor:  "The  President  of  the 
United  States"  and  "The  President  of  the  French  Republic." 


198  Boston's  Hospitality 

By  the  Ambassador:   "The  Governor  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts. ' ' 

The  guests  were  soon  ready  for  the  next  stage  of  Boston's 
welcome. 

To  THE  LADIES 

While  the  first  citizen  of  the  Commonwealth  was  a  host  in 
the  dancing  hall,  the  first  lady  of  the  municipality  was 
hostess  in  the  "Palm  Room"  under  the  same  resplendent  roof. 
About  1 8  richly  attired  ladies  of  the  two  Republics  were  seated  at 
a  large  round  table.  In  the  center  was  the  French  coat  of 
arms,  arranged  in  violets,  roses,  carnations,  and  orchids,  with 
the  inscription  "F.  R." 

At  each  plate  was  a  bouquet  de  corsage  of  red  rosebuds,  white 
carnations,  and  blue  bachelor's  buttons,  tied  with  ribbons  of  the 
French  national  colors. 

As  a  -  usual  preliminary  Mrs.  Collins  and  her  daughters 
received  the  guests  in  the  library,  after  which  they  were  shown 
to  the  table  by  M.  L,ebon,  French  attache,  and  Mr.  Curran, 
secretary  to  the  mayor. 

The  ladies,  costumed  in  promenade  habit,  were — 

Mrs.  Collins,  the  hostess,  in  black  silk  with  lace,  and  black  hat  with 
plumes. 

Miss  Collins,  white  mousseline  de  soie  over  pale  green,  large  yellow 
straw  hat,  black  plumes. 

Miss  Marie  Collins,  e"cru  veiling,  white  hat  with  foliage  and  lace. 

Comtesse  de  Rochambeau,  pale  green  veiling,  with  lace  hat  same  color 
with  black  velvet  and  white  plumes. 

Mme.  Cambon,  cream  white,  large  yellow  straw  hat  with  yellow  ribbons 
and  black  velvet. 

Mme.  Margerie,  white  lace  chiffon  over  pink  silk,  black  and  white  boa, 
black  hat  with  black  plumes. 

Mme.  Lebon,  black  skirt,  white  satin  bodice,  black  and  white  hat. 

Mme.  Vignal,  white  mousseline  de  soie,  straw  hat  with  crushed  straw 
berry  ribbons. 

Mme.  Bailly-Blanchard,  mauve  silk  with  lavender  ribbon  bows. 

Mrs.  John  L,.  Bates,  pale  drab  cloth,  white  vest,  black  hat  with  ostrich 
plumes. 

Miss*  Matthews,  blue  and  white  satin  foulard,  with  lace  hat  brimmed 
with  lace  and  pale  blue  plumes. 

Mrs.  Charles  W.  Eliot,  dark  blue  etamine,  black  and  white  tulle  hat. 


Boston's  Hospitality  199 

Mrs.  Aston  Carey,  dark  green  veiling,  black  hat. 

Mrs.  Herbert  H.  D.  Peirce,  pink  and  white  flowered  organdie  over  pink 
silk  black  and  white,  black  hat  with  pink  roses. 

Mrs.  Alexander  Martin,  pale  blue  gray  veiling  over  silk  white  vest,  white 
hat  with  white  plumes. 

Mrs.  Thomas  J.  Gargan,  white  and  black  India  satin,  and  lace  tulle  hat 
with  roses. 

Mrs.  Charles  Cumston,  mauve  etamine  with  lace,  black  and  white  hat. 

Mrs.  Higginson,  cafe  au  lait  net  white  vest,  cream  white  toque  with 
plumes. 

Mrs.  Childs,  gray  blue  foulard,  round  cream  white  straw  hat,  with 
touches  of  pale  marguerites  in  the  trimming. 

ON    THE    ' '  DIAMOND  ' ' 

At  2.45  p.  m.  the  cavalcade  left  the  hotel,  taking  the  Charles 
River  speedway  to  Cambridge. 

Arriving  at  "Soldiers'  Field,"  two  flanking  files  of  red- 
coated  Lancers  and  a  long  line  of  carriages,  bearing  equally 
spectacular  occupants,  entered  amid  loud  shouts  of  welcome. 

After  witnessing  a  few  innings  of  a  game  of  base  ball  a 
bugle  blast — "Boots  and  saddles" — called  the  visitors  to 
carriages  and  the  Lancers  to  mount.  The  procession,  heading 
for  the  exit,  moved  off  in  stately  form,  the  band  coincidently 
playing  a  suitable  air  and  the  rival  nines  continuing  college 
yells  and  "Vive  la  France!  " 

As  the  visitors  were  leaving,  the  ladies  of  the  delegation  as 
guests  of  the  wife  of  the  mayor  drove  up.  Giving  way  to  gal 
lantry,  the  procession  halted  long  enough  to  exchange  courte 
sies  and  then  resumed  their  ride. 

AT   THE   WASHINGTON   ELM 

En  route  they  made  a  detour  in  order  to  visit  the  Washington 
elm.  General  Brugere,  who  desired  to  pay  homage  to  the 
sacred  spot,  was  the  first  to  alight,  and  walking  up  to  the  stone 
tablet,  holding  in  his  hand  a  bouquet  of  roses,  said  in  French 
as  he  placed  it  thereon: 

Here  in  this  place  where  General  Washington  took  command  of  the 
American  Army,  and  which  is  really  the  birthplace  of  American  inde 
pendence,  it  seems  entirely  fitting,  and  I  am  very  glad,  on  behalf  of  the 
army  of  France,  to  place  these  flowers  under  this  tree. 


2oo  '  Boston's  Hospitality 

HARVARD   SALUTATIONS 

The  cortege  continuing  its  progress,  passing  Harvard  square, 
were  driven  into  the  college  inclosure,  the  L,ancer  escort  lining 
up  at  the  gateway.  The  visitors  were  met  at  the  entrance  to 
University  Hall  by  President  Hliot.  Owing  to  the  delay  in 
arrival  the  proposed  reception  was  abandoned  in  order  to  give 
better  opportunity  for  more  important  functions. 

Without  alighting,  the  visitors  made  a  circuit  of  the  college 
buildings,  reaching  the  theater,  where  the  formal  ceremonies 
were  to  take  place,  about  half -past  four. 

The  audience  rose  to  their  feet  and  applauded  the  visitors. 
Under  escort  of  Prof.  H.  H.  Morgan,  and  a  score  of  under 
graduates  as  ushers,  they  were  conducted  to  the  platform,  where 
the  faculty  of  modern  languages  and  history  and  political  science 
were  seated. 

In  the  invited  audience  were  professors  and  undergraduates 
of  Harvard,  officers  and  professors  of  Wellesley,  public  schools, 
Tuft's  College,  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology,  Boston 
University,  New  Church  Theological  Seminary,  and  a  large 
number  of  students  and  residents. 

The  exercises  were  opened  by  President  Charles  W.  Eliot,  in 
an  address  of  welcome.  He  said: 

Members  of  the  University,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  It  is  the  first  time 
that  Harvard  University  has  had  the  privilege  of  welcoming  to  its  halls 
such  a  group  of  eminent  Frenchmen  as  are  now  our  guests,  and  we  wish 
especially  to  welcome  the  high  official  of  the  University  of  France,  the 
dean  of  the  Faculty  of  Letters  in  the  University  of  Paris.  And  again  it  ts 
a  new  privilege  for  us  and  especially  for  me,  the  president,  to  invite  the 
ambassador  of  the  French  Republic,  a  Harvard  doctor  of  laws,  to  present 
to  you  the  representative  of  French  letters  and  scholarship. 

The  French  ambassador,  M.  Jules  Cambon,  L/L,.  D.,  speaking 
in  French,  said: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen :  I  have  never  before  had  to  associate  with  my 
capacity  as  ambassador  to  the  United  States  my  function  as  doctor  of  the 
University  of  Harvard,  and  it  is  in  this  double  role  that  I  am  asked, 
at  the  instance  of  President  Eliot,  to  introduce  to  you  my  eminent 
compatriot,  M.  Croiset,  who  finds  himself  for  the  moment  among  us. 


Bostorts  Hospitality  201 

I  am  also  very  happy  to  be  able  at  the  same  time  to  present  to  you  the 
members  of  the  French  Mission,  presided  over  by  the  chief  of  our  army, 
General  Brug£re,  among  whom  you  may  reckon  Admiral  Fournier.  I 
introduce  here  also  M.  Legrave,  who  represents  our  commerce.  I  am 
very  happy  to  be  able  to  present  them  to  you.  These  gentlemen  have 
traveled  to  the  United  States  in  order  to  do  honor  to  one  of  our  generals, 
the  most  illustrious  Marshal  ROCHAMBEAU.  He  was  the  companion  and 
the  associate  of  Washington;  and  it  is  a  duty  very  sweet,  not  only  for  us, 
but  also  for  the  descendents  of  ROCHAMBEAU,  for  the  Comtesse  de 
Rochambeau  is  in  our  midst,  to  associate  with  pur  feelings  on  this  occasion 
the  sentiment  of  country. 

The  members  of  the  French  Mission,  after  having  fulfilled  their  patriotic 
duty  at  Washington,  have  held  themselves  under  quite  a  particular  obliga 
tion  to  come  to  Boston,  for  the  reason  that  Boston  is  in  reality  the  cradle 
of  the  American  Revolution.  A  few  paces  only  from  here  is  Lexington, 
and  still  nearer  is  the  monument  which  honors  forever  the  memory  of  the 
combatants  of  Bunker  Hill.  But  I  want  those  present  to  thoroughly 
realize  that  in  paying  this  visit  to  Harvard  University  we  have  been  actu 
ated  not  only  by  that  sentiment  of  curiosity  which  is  felt  by  all  strangers 
who  come  to  inspect  this  magnificent  monument,  which  to  such  a  degree 
testifies  to  the  love  which  Americans  have  for  scientific  and  literary  studies, 
but  also  by  a  sentiment  of  patriotism. 

It  was  at  Boston  that  the  first  struggle  for  American  independence 
began,  and  we  owe  thanks  to  Cambridge  and  thanks  to  the  old  university 
of  Harvard,  the  focus  always  burning,  which  has  kept  alive  among 
Americans  the  love  of  liberty  and  of  justice — the  source  whence  the 
Americans  of  that  time  have  drawn  those  ardent  passions  which  have 
enabled  them  to  fight  for  independence  and  to  create  a  new  nation. 

So  we  others  who  are  Frenchmen,  we  who  share  something  of  the 
honor  you  have  won  in  struggling  with  Washington  for  the  creation  of 
the  United  States,  are  grateful  to  Harvard  for  the  instruction  she  has 
given  to  her  sons,  and  we  are  happy  every  time  we  come  to  America  to 
come  here  and  salute  you  of  this  town  and  institution.  I  say  this  also  in 
the  name  of  the  men  who  have  come  here  to  represent  French  letters. 
French  literature  has  played  a  great  part  in  the  history  of  human  thought, 
and  grand  old  Sorbonne — a  university  which  is  a  little  older  than  yours, 
although  yours  is  the  oldest  in  America — has  the  honor  of  having  at  the 
head  of  its  faculty  of  letters  M.  Croiset.  You  know  him  perhaps  by  name 
so  I  have  no  need  to  present  him,  indeed  you  will  know  him  the  moment 
you  hear  him  if  it  be  true  as  the  French  proverb  says,  "  the  workman  is 
known  by  his  work." 

Let  me  ask  him  to  say  something  of  Sorbonne,  to  tell  you  something  of 
the  esprit  and  thought  of  France,  as  well  as  to  assure  you  of  the  profound 
affection  which  all  French  hearts  cherish  for  America. 


2O2  Boston's  Hospitality 


"FROM  THE  ODDEST  OF  THE  OI,D  WORI.D  TO  THE  ODDEST  OF  THE  NEW 

WORI,D" 

M.  Croiset,  stepping  to  the  front,  was  most  enthusiastically 
received,  and  spoke  in  French  as  follows: 

As  effusively  as  I  may,  let  me  first  thank  M.  Cambon,  the  French 
ambassador  to  the  United  States,  and  your  president,  Mr.  Eliot,  for  the 
terms  in  which  they  have  been  good  enough  to  present  me  to  you.  I 
shall  then  pass  to  a  subject  more  interesting  than  myself,  who  am  nothing 
here,  in  order  to  say  that  I  am  happy  to  bring  to  the  oldest  university  of 
the  New  World  the  cordial  salute  and  fraternal  greeting  of  the  oldest 
university  of  the  Old  World,  the  University  of  Paris. 

I  want  to  add  that  I  should  very  much  like  to  have  it  arranged  that 
this  visit,  the  first,  as  was  just  now  said  by  your  president  in  his  official 
character,  shall  not  be  the  last.  I  should  very  much  like  to  have  the 
habit  of  these  visits  between  universities,  between  their  professors  and 
their  students,  continued  and  perpetuated.  I  wish  our  professors  and 
students  had  more  of  the  habit  of  coming  here  and  that  you  who  are 
here  also  had  more  of  the  habit  of  coming  to  Paris.  It  is  the  old  habit, 
remember,  of  the  universities  of  the  Middle  Ages  from  which  we  descend. 
For  in  those  times  the  students  used  to  come  from  all  the  other  countries, 
and  even  now  they  are  so  numerous  that  we  have  a  special  ' '  college ' '  for 
them.  There  are  students  from  Scotland,  Bnglish  students,  and  Italian 
students,  not  to  mention  others,  and  all  those  nationalities  form  a  popu 
lation  that  is  literally  immense,  and  it  occupies  quite  a  section  of  Paris. 

So  I  should  like  that  in  some  degree  these  habits  should  be  followed 
more  and  more ;  that  more  and  more  a  bond  due  to  these  mutual  visits 
should  be  formed  between  the  universities  of  your  country  and  of  mine; 
that  more  and  more  this  bond  should  be  strengthened  by  our  feeling  for 
other  countries,  by  our  love  and  not  by  our  hate  for  them;  that  more  and 
more  the  men  who  have  the  same  thought  and  entertain  the  same  aspira 
tions,  who  are  actuated  by  feelings  acquired  in  the  pursuit  of  the  truth  and 
have  the  same  respect  for  the  acquisitions  of  science,  shall  come  together 
in  this  fraternal  relation.  I  repeat  that  I  hope  such  visits  as  these  may 
be  renewed. 

As  for  the  University  of  Paris,  it  is  certainly  extremely  ancient.  As 
was  said  just  now,  it  is  the  oldest  of  all  the  European  universities.  But 
when  one  directs  a  glance  to  periods  thus  remote  he  traverses  periods 
that  are  difficult  to  understand.  In  universities  so  ancient  there  are 
vicissitudes,  and  sometimes  they  reveal  to  us  experiments  that  do  not 
always  succeed.  That  is  the  fate  of  experiments.  The  university  has 
made  some  of  these  experiments,  and  not  all  of  them  have  been  com 
pletely  happy.  In  the  seventeenth  century  it  is  certain  that  the  old  life 
of  the  university  changed  its  nature.  It  was  flooded  with  what  we  call  in 


Boston's  Hospitality  203 

France  ''special  schools"  and  became  a  veritable  scientific  workshop. 
These  schools  were  of  the  type  of  our  normal  schools  from  which  Pasteur 
graduated  in  surgery  and  Tain  in  philosophy. 

In  the  special  schools,  nevertheless,  there  is  some  inconvenience,  since 
here  it  often  happens  that  the  mind  grows  restricted  in  the  pursuit  of 
objects  wrhich  are  too  special  in  their  character.  .The  unity  of  science  is 
the  motive  of  the  pursuit  of  truth,  and  this  enables  the  mind  to  pass  over 
all  barriers,  to  transcend  all  artificial  restrictions.  In  this  way  the  sub 
jects  discipline  one  another.  Well,  in  the  past  twenty  years  we  have 
done  something  in  reestablishing  anew  the  old  University  of  Paris  by 
infusing  into  it  the  modern  spirit.  We  have  no  wish  to  return  to  the 
ideas  or  to  the  doctrines  of  the  fourteenth  century. 

We  are  men  of  our  time  and  we  are  trying  to  keep  step  with  the  century 
which  is  now  beginning.  I  believe  that  to-day  we  can  say  to  you  in  all 
confidence,  "Come  to  us. ' '  On  our  part  we  desire  also  to  visit  you.  Now, 
on  this  point  I  want  to  say  that  if  some  of  you  arrive  in  Paris,  even  with 
out  being  announced  in  advance,  you  must  pay  us  a  visit  to  the  Sorbonne, 
which  for  two  centuries  has  been  the  center  and  the  heart  of  the  Uni 
versity  of  Paris.  I  shall  not  speak  of  admirable  gardens,  such  as  we  have 
just  traversed  here  in  Boston,  for  we  have  nothing  of  that  sort  in  Paris. 
But  our  Sorbonne  has  surroundings  which  will  interest  you;  but  a  few 
paces  away  you  will  find  the  Luxembourg,  where  you  may  repose  for  a 
while  from  the  dust  of  our  streets  and  boulevards. 

In  most  of  the  universities  of  the  Old  World  you  will  generally  find  a 
great  diversity  of  admirable  collections  usually  brought  together  under 
one  roof.  Yet,  when  you  come  to  Paris  you  will  not  find  that  at  the  Sor 
bonne,  for  we  have  there  the  inconveniences,  yet  also  sometimes  the 
advantages,  of  possessing  things  extremely  ancient,  in  this  resembling  the 
things  of  nature.  Each  generation  has  brought  its  stone  to  the  common 
edifice,  yet  after  all  the  stones  have  been  accumulated  the  roof  does  not 
seem  to  have  been  placed  over  the  structure  where  the  imagination  or  the 
more  exacting  reason  would  have  expected. 

But  look  around  our  Sorbonne  and  you  will  find  its  treasures — on  the 
one  side,  that  incomparable  collection  of  natural  history  specimens;  on 
the  other,  the  Louvre,  with  its  schools  and  its  magnificent  examples  and 
lessons  in  art;  then  the  School  of  Fine  Arts  and  the  other  institutions. 

Now,  while  these  do  not  form  parts  of  the  University  of  Paris,  they  none 
the  less  belong  to  it  and  constitute  a  part  of  its  instruction.  So  I  wish  to 
bring  to  you  the  very  cordial  salute  of  the  University  of  France.  I  desire 
that  your  nation  shall  come  more  and  more  to  know  ours.  It  is  a  grand 
thing  for  nations  to  get  acquainted  with  each  other.  The  truth,  of  which 
we  are  all  in  search,  has  something  impersonal  in  it — something  which  is 
superior  to  individuals  and  to  nations;  and  however  eagerly  a  man  exerts 


2O4  Boston's  Hospitality 

himself  to  reach  the  truth  alike  with  his  eyes  and  with  his  reason,  he 
sometimes  takes  it  with  the  color  given  by  his  eyes  and  not  his  reason. 

We  need,  then,  to  study  the  truth  as  it  is  in  different  countries.  The 
total  rays,  by  adding  something  to  the  different  aspects,  will  make  the 
image  more  complete  and  will  bring  us  nearer  to  the  complete  truth. 

Consider,  finally,  the  zeal  of  the  people  of  the  Middle  Ages — those  who 
came  to  Paris  to  learn  theology,  to  acquire  medicine,  students  from  one 
university  and  from  another,  representing  the  spirit  of  the  different  na 
tions.  Let  us,  like  them,  study  the  manner  of  appreciation  of  truth  which 
characterizes  the  various  nations  to-day.  If  we  do  this,  we  shall  under 
stand  each  other — we  shall  learn  to  love  each  other. 

A   TEA    BY   THE   LADIES 

At  the  conclusion  of  M.  Croiset's  impressive  remarks  the 
entire  party  were  taken  to  Phillips  Brooks  House  to  a  tea  given 
by  the  ladies  of  the  faculty. 

The  visitors  were  received  by  Mrs.  Clement  L.  Smith,  Mrs. 
J.  H.  Wright,  and  Miss  Edith  Oilman.  Mrs.  H.  L-  Smith, 
Mrs.  Irving  Babbitt,  Mrs.  H.  H.  Norgan,  and  Mme.  Brun 
presided  at  the  urn  and  tea  table. 

The  affair  was  entirely  informal,  but  greatly  enjoyed  by  the 
guests.  The  stay  was  necessarily  short,  as  the  climax  to  the 
day's  hospitality  was  yet  to  come.  Carriages  were  called  in 
less  than  half  an  hour.  The  gentlemen  of  the  party,  on  their 
way  to  the  city,  tarried  at  Alpha  Delta  Phi  House.  The  ladies 
were  driven  to  the  hotel. 

FRENCH    MARINE    BAND    CONCERT 

The  Boston  Commons,  held  in  deepest  reverence  by  every 
native-born  American,  recalling  the  skating  scene  and  Gates, 
the  British  general,  presented  a  happy  diversion  in  the  splen 
did  series  of  state,  municipal,  and  academic  ceremonies  else 
where. 

While  the  military,  naval,  and  civic  members  of  the  Mission 
were  receiving  hospitalities  from  the  authorities,  more  than  ten 
thousand  people  were  being  entertained  at  a  complimentary 
afternoon  concert  on  the  same  Commons  by  the  famous  French 


Boston's  Hospitality  205 

marine  band  of  the  Toulon  fleet,  detached  to  the  Gaulois  for 
the  occasion  of  its  commemorative  voyage  to  the  United  States. 

The  organization,  consisting  of  46  musicians,  led  by  M.  L,eon 
Karren,  occupied  the  band  pavilion  for  several  hours  rendering 
with  artistic  and  popular  success  a  pleasing  repertoire. 

At  an  intermission  between  the  numbers  two  boys,  in 
French  zouave  uniform,  presented  M.  Karren  with  a  tricolored 
bouquet  fastened  with  blue,  white,  and  red  streamers.  The 
incident  was  greeted  with  a  loud  shout  of  approbation. 

As  the  musicians  returned  to  their  launch  for  conveyance 
aboard  the  armored  cruiser,  a  spontaneous  triumphal  progress 
was  accorded  them  along  the  route  and  as  they  left  the  dock. 

MAYOR'S  BANQUET 

The  banquet  under  the  auspices  of  the  municipality  of 
Boston,  in  recognition  of  the  motive  and  personnel  of  the 
Mission,  was  one  of  the  most  brilliant  of  the  series  of  these 
affairs  in  the  round  of  prandial  entertainment  bestowed  by 
the  Government,  cities,  and  civic  bodies. 

The  great  hall  was  richly  adorned  with  the  ensigns  of  the 
two  Republics,  and  a  wealth  of  beauty  in  foliage  and  flowers. 

A  cordial  welcome  from  the  mayor  and  distinguished  group 
about  him  was  extended  the  members  of  the  Mission  as  they 
entered. 

Their  appearance  was  the  signal  for  a  burst  of  applause 
from  the  distinguished  assemblage  and  of  melody  from  the 
orchestra. 

After  the  tumultuous  greeting  had  in  a  measure  subsided, 
to  the  air  of  a  march  the  mayor,  leading  off  with  the  French 
ambassador,  followed  by  the  guests,  each  attended  by  a  repre 
sentative  of  the  host,  proceeded  to  the  hall. 

The  oratory  of  the  evening  was  interspersed  with  selections 
from  a  choice  repertoire  by  the  Municipal  Orchestra. 

The  host  and  guests  being  seated,  they  forthwith  proceeded 
to  discuss  and  dispose  of  an  elaborate  menu. 


2o6  Bostorfs  Hospitality 

At  the  beginning  of  the  dessert  the  mayor  spoke  as  follows: 
' '  THE  MUNICIPALITY  ' ' 

Mr.  Ambassador  and  Gentlemen  of  France:  I  am  sorry  that  to-night  we 
can  not  all  commune  in  the  same  language,  as  our  hearts  unite  in  entire 
sympathy  and  affection,  but  the  twined  flags  of  both  countries  in  red, 
white,  and  blue  spell  the  essence  of  both  languages  and  what  both  people 
understand — liberty,  equality,  fraternity. 

With  more  pleasure  than  I  can  well  express  I  welcome  you  to  this  city — 
the  birthplace  of  the  Republic — where  began  the  great  struggle  for  inde 
pendence,  which,  by  the  timely  aid  of  France,  was  carried  to  triumph 
and  glory  one  hundred  and  twenty  years  ago  under  Washington  and 
ROCHAMBEAU. 

It  is  idle  to-day,  and  will  be  for  all  time,  to  speculate  as  to  the  fate  of 
the  thirteen  Colonies  if  the  weight  of  France  had  not  been  thrown  into 
the  scale.  It  is  enough  to  know  that  it  was  thrown,  that  it  was  decisive, 
and  that  the  trained  soldiers  of  France  hauled  down  the  British  flag  one 
certain  day  at  Yorktown  never  to  float  again.  That  day  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  ceased  to  be  a  mere  piece  of  paper  and  became  a  reality. 
It  was  our  very  darkest  hour — the  hour  before  the  dawn — when  your 
Marshal  came.  What  he  and  his  splendid  army  did  for  us  stands  written 
for  all  men  to  see.  The  statue  you  saw  unveiled  the  other  day  will  last 
until  the  law  of  decay  runs  to  execution,  but  beyond  that  remote  time, 
and  forever,  the  American  heart  will  throb  at  the  mention  of  the  name, 
and  the  gratitude  of  this  Republic  will  go  out  to  France  for  the  blow  struck 
that  made  us  free. 

I  bid  you  welcome,  thrice  welcome,  and  in  a  phrase  translated  from  the 
language  of  a  kindred  and  friendly  race,  ' '  A  hundred  thousand  welcomes. ' ' 

The  mayor's  loudly,  applauded  sentiments  were  followed  by 
a  stirring  reference  to  Boston's  association  with  ROCHAMBEAU, 
by  Lieutenant- Governor  Bates,  as  follows: 

' '  THE   COMMONWEALTH  ' ' 

Your  Excellency  and  Distinguished  Guests:  I  esteem  it  a  high  privilege 
on  behalf  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  and  by  direction  of  his 
excellency  and  in  the  name  of  all  the  citizens  of  the  Commonwealth,  to 
extend  to  you  a  hearty  welcome.  We  take  pleasure  in  discovering  that 
you  did  not  find  your  mission  complete  until  you  had  visited  our,  State. 
Massachusetts  owes  something  to  the  man  whom  you  came  here  to 
honor.  It  was  here,  according  to  your  distinguished  Marquise,  that 
the  cradle  of  American  liberty  was,  and  he  ventured  to  express  the  hope 
that  this  place  might  also  at  some  time  be  designated  the  cradle  of 


Boston's  Hospitality  207 

universal  liberty.  [Applause.]  Certain  it  is  that  here  the  fires  of  the 
Revolution  were  first  lighted;  here  the  blow  of  oppression  was  first  felt. 
Here  was  the  soil  from  which  sprung  Adams  and  Hancock  and  Warren 
and  Otis,  and  here  would  have  been  felt  the  most  dire  results  had  that 
Revolution  not  been  successful.  But  twice  during  our  history  have  we 
heard  here  in  our  streets  the  tread  of  a  foreign  army.  One  was  when 
Howe  embarked  from  our  wharves  because  the  cannon  of  Washington 
were  frowning  from  Dorchester  Heights  and  he  was  seeking  a  place  sub 
ject  to  less  embarrassment. 

The  other  time  was  five  years  later  when,  with  steady  step  and  with 
battle-scarred  flags  of  France  and  America,  the  victorious,  triumphant 
%  army  of  ROCHAMBICAU  [applause]  marched  through  our  streets  and  was 
hailed  by  our  people  as  a  deliverer.  Again  they  embarked  from  our 
wrharves  and  went  aboard  that  magnificent  fleet  which  France  had  sent  to 
our  assistance.  That  was  in  the  days  long  ago,  but  Massachusetts  has  not 
forgotten  it.  She  has  ever  been  ready  to  acknowledge  her  debt  of  grati 
tude  to  France.  [Great  shouts  and  cheers.]  When  I^afayette,  after  an 
absence  of  forty  years,  visited  this  city,  he  found,  as  he  entered  it,  over  the 
main  highway  a  great  arch,  and  upon  it  there  was  inscribed: 

Welcome,  Lafayette. 

Our  fathers  shall  sleep 

Who  gathered  with  thee  to  the  fight, 

But  the  sons  shall  eternally  keep 

The  tablets  of  gratitude  bright. 

We  bend  not  the  neck, 

We  bend  not  the  knee, 

But  our  hearts,  Lafayette, 

We  surrender  to  thee. 

Twice  forty  years  nearly  have  passed  since  that  day,  but  the  sons  are 
keeping  the  tablets  of  gratitude  still  bright.  Welcome,  then,  representa 
tives  of  our  great  sister  Republic  across  the  seas. 

Welcome!  You  who  bring  to  our  minds  memories  of  a  great  host  of 
magnificent  heritage  of  the  great  struggle  of  which  it  was  one;  memories 
of  men  who  locked  their  shields  with  ours  for  liberty  and  for  freedom; 
memories  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  Lafayette;  memories  of  the  generosity 
of  a  nation  and  of  personal  sacrifice;  memories  of  a  faithful  ally  and  of 
enduring  affection.  Welcome!  Sons  of  sires  to  whom  it  was  given  not 
only  to  unite  men,  but  to  combine  men  of  two  nations  in  lasting  friend" 
ship.  [Applause.] 

Postmaster  Hibbard,  of  Boston,  spoke  of  the  services  of  France 
in  America.  He  said: 

Mr.  Mayor,  Illustrious  Representatives  of  France,  and  Gentlemen:  The 
strength  of  the  nation  is  embodied  in  its  people,  and  the  strength  of  that 
people  is  embodied  in  the  ideals  that  prompt  it  to  act. 


2o8  Boston's  Hospitality 

It  is  not  surprising  that  the  United  States,  composed  as  it  is  of  men  of 
all  nationalities,  should  be  a  powerful  country,  but  what  it  is  to-day  was 
not  what  it  was  a  century  and  a  quarter  ago.  Then  it  was  struggling  for 
existence.  Friends  were  needed  and  finances  were  low.  The  colonists 
were  becoming  discouraged.  In  one  of  the  darkest  moments  there  came 
with  an  army  a  son  of  France.  He  brought  with  him  the  substantial  aid 
that  helped  to  make  the  beginning  of  what  the  Republic  has  become 
to-day. 

The  blending  of  the  banners  of  France  with  those  of  this  country  upon 
the  battlefield  of  Yorktown  served  but  to  cement  a"  friendship  that  must 
last  forever. 

A  nation  loves  to  honor  the  names  of  its  illustrious  sons,  and  we  here 
love  to  think  of  the  great  men  of  this  country.  When  we  go  back  to  those 
early  days,  however,  we  find  the  names  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  Lafayette 
are  linked  together  inseparably  with  the  great  name  of  Washington,  and 
we  honor  these  and  other  great  men  of  France  who  came  to  us  when  we 
most  needed  them. 

The  speaker  alluded  to  the  significance  of  the  presence  of  the 
distinguished  guests,  and  hoped  they  would  ' '  take  back  to  their 
beautiful  country  a  message  of  deepest  gratitude  and  affection 
from  the  United  States. ' ' 

Ambassador  Cambon  next  rose,  and  was  greeted  with  loud 
welcome.  Speaking  in  French  and  English,  he  said: 

Mr.  Mayor  and  Gentlemen:  I  am  sorry,  indeed,  to  leave  this  country, 
and  my  countrymen  are  also  sorry.  They  will  regret  going  because  of  the 
kind  welcome  they  have  had  here  every  day  since  their  sojourn  in  the 
United  States  began.  Boston  is  the  flower  of  the  American  cities  and  we 
have  had  a  hearty  welcome  here.  Let  me  now  revert  to  a  language  which 
is  to  me  more  familiar.  [Speaks  in  French.]  I  am  really  very  much 
touched  to  be  called  upon  at  this  banquet  to  speak  of  France,  and  I  con 
fess  to  you  that  I  find  therein  a  new  proof  of  the  delicacy  with  which  you 
have  been  good  enough  to  receive  us  Frenchmen  here  to-night.  If  I  rep 
resent  France  in  relations  with  your  President  and  your  Government,  I 
consider  myself  as  having  a  sort  of  tacit  mission  to  make  my  countrymen 
understand  and  love  the  United  States. 

I  can  not  tell  you,  Americans  and  Bostonians,  how  grateful  I  am  to  you 
for  the  open  arms  and  extended  hands  which  I  and  my  compatriots  have 
found  here  in  America.  They  will  carry  away  with  them  the  remembrance 
of  all  they  have  experienced.  But  you,  Mr.  Mayor,  have  asked  me  to 
reply  to  the  toast  to  the  health  of  the  French  Republic  and  of  its  Presi 
dent.  I  can  not  better  reply  than  by  saying  that  you  have  done  honor  to  a 
man  of  whom  we  Frenchmen  are  all  proud — a  man  whose  considerable 


Boston's  Hospitality  209 

intellectual  attainments,  whose  modest  virtue,  whose  wisdom,  are  recog 
nized  by  all,  and  who  brings  to  his  high  function  that  brilliant  authority 
which  it  has  in  the  world  at  large. 

Thomas  Jefferson  Coolidge,  former  minister  to  France,  spoke 
reminiscently  of  experiences  of  his  diplomatic  residence  at  Paris. 

DIPLOMACY 

Mr.  Mayor  and  Fellow-Citizens:  I  am  grateful  to  the  mayor  for  calling 
upon  me  to  say  a  few  words  of  welcome  to  our  distinguished  guests.  He 
might  have  chosen  a  better  speaker,  but  no  one  who  could  be  more 
gratified  at  the  opportunity  of  expressing  publicly  to  a  body  of  leading 
Frenchmen  his  admiration  for  their  country. 

I  thank  them  for  the  kindness  and  courtesy  with  which  I  was  univer 
sally  treated  when  I  had  the  honor  of  being  minister  to  France.  The 
Government  and  the  people  made  me  feel  that  it  was  because  I  was  an 
American  and  represented  America  that  I  was  welcome,  and  they  yielded 
to  requests  made  by  our  Government,  not  always  because  they  thought  it 
was  right,  but  because  they  wished  to  testify  their  good  will  toward  us. 

I  can  say  nothing  new  to  you  gentlemen,  nothing  that  has  not  been 
repeated  many  times  at  every  ceremony  and  dinner  you  have  been  called 
upon  to  attend  since  your  arrival  in  this  country.  You  have  been  wel 
comed  everywhere  and  you  are  welcome  here  to-night  because  of  your 
own  merit  and  the  high  standing  you  have  in  the  army  and  navy  of  your 
country,  because  your  ambassador,  M.  Cambon,  who  introduces  you,  has 
shown  such  tact  and  ability  in  every  transaction  he  has  had  with  our 
Government  from  the  Spanish  war  down  to  the  present  moment.  You 
have  come  on  a  friendly  errand  from  a  friendly  people,  and  the  great  name 
of  ROCHAMBEAU  carries  us  back  to  October  19,  1781,  when  the  final 
victory  of  Yorktown  added  another  laurel  to  his  already  illustrious  name. 

But  gentlemen,  a  deeper  feeling  underlies  all  our  thought.  When  we 
were  struggling  for  liberty  against  the  power  of  England  on  one  side  and 
the  Tory  element  at  home,  we  owed  the  foundation  of  our  Republic  at  that 
period  to  the  assistance  of  the  French  and  their  army  and  navy  under 
ROCHAMBEAU  and  De  Grasse. 

But,  fellow-citizens,  have  you  thought  how  much  we  owe  them?  When 
we  had  become  an  independent  nation  we  were  a  straggling,  thinly 
inhabited  line  of  colonies  running  along  the  seacoast  from  Massachusetts 
to  Georgia,  crowded  between  the  Alleghenies  and  the  Atlantic.  If  the 
English  had  remained  in  control  of  the  Mississippi  River  as  well  as  of 
Canada  we  should  have  continued  an  insignificant  power.  To  the  French 
we  owe  that  magnificent  domain  of  Louisiana,  stretching  from  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico  to  Puget  Sound  and  from  the  Mississippi  on  the  east  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean  on  the  west. 

S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 14 


2io  Boston's  Hospitality 

The  possession  of  this  vast  territory,  teeming  with  mineral  wealth,  pene 
trated  on  all  sides  by  magnificent  rivers,  with  a  climate  exactly  suited  to 
the  Anglo-Saxon  race  and  a  soil  unequaled  in  its  fertility  from  the  wheat 
bearing  plains  of  the  Dakotas,  southward  to  the  vineyards  and  orange 
groves  of  California — the  possession  I  say  of  this  land  of  promise  enabled 
us  to  grow  into  a  mighty  people,  until  we  rank  in  population,  in  wealth, 
and  in  power  with  the  greatest  nations  the  world  has  ever  seen. 

All  hail  to  the  country  which  helped  us  in  our  childhood  to  achieve  inde 
pendence  and  in  our  manhood  to  take  possession  of  a  continent. 

Gentlemen,  we  owe  the  French  nation  a  debt  of  gratitude  greater 
than  to  any  other  people  of  Europe;  yea,  greater  than  to  all  other  nations 
combined. 

Can  we,  then,  do  too  much  in  honoring  their  delegates  and  in  bidding 
them  when  they  turn  their  faces  homeward  to  carry  back  the  ardent  wishes 
of  the  city  of  Boston  for  the  glory  and  prosperity  of  the  French  Republic? 

The  University  of  Harvard  had  a  voice,  through  President 
Eliot,  who  spoke  on  the  generosity  of  ROCHAMBKAU. 

ACADEMIC 

Looking  back  through  this  long  vista  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-one 
years,  what  is  it  in  the  conduct  of  Lafayette  and  ROCHAMBEAU  during  the 
war  of  our  Revolution  which  now  most  touches  our  hearts  and  attracts  the 
respect  and  admiration  of  this  remote  generation  ?  It  is  not  their  courage 
and  endurance  in  fight.  They  were  professional  soldiers,  officers  in  the 
army  of  a  legitimate  King,  and  it  was  their  natural  part  to  manifest  a 
soldier's  obedience  and  constancy. 

The  quality  in  them  which  makes  this  generation  glad  to  do  them  honor 
was  their  generosity.  Lafayette  gave  himself  to  the  cause  of  our  country 
with  a  fervid  enthusiasm  and  a  perfect  generosity.  ROCHAMBEAU,  a  veteran 
commander,  with  his  division  of  regular  French  troops,  full  of  pride  in  the 
military  history  of  his  regiment  and  of  his  country,  served  courageously 
only  as  an  auxiliary  under  command  of  Washington,  the  head  of  an  army 
illy  organized,  illy  supplied,  belonging  to  an  incoherent  government  in 
revolution  against  the  King. 

From  the  point  of  view  of  the  professional  soldier  this  was  a  supreme 
generosity.  It  is  a  striking  illustration  of  the  general  fact  that  there  is  no 
more  generous  being  than  a  generous  Frenchman,  and  that  broad  prin 
ciple  that  in  good  relation  between  human  beings,  generosity  tells  for 
more  than  sagacity  or  justice  or  even  mercy.  [Applause.]  Would  that  our 
people  and  our  Government  and  all  peoples  and  governments  could  recog 
nize  that  this  truth  holds  in  dealings  between  nations  as  well  as  between 
individuals.  This  is  one  good  reason  drawn  from  the  past  that  makes  us 


Boston's  Hospitality  211 

all  glad  to  join  the  celebration  which  has  brought  these  eminent  French 
men  to  our  shores. 

There  is  another  of  more  recent  origin.  When  in  1834  the  Boston 
orator,  Edward  Everett,  pronounced  in  Faneuil  Hall  his  famous  eulogy 
on  L,afayette,  the  peroration  of  his  admirable  address  declared  that  the 
great  principle  illustrated  in  the  life  of  his  hero  was  love  of  liberty  pro 
tected  by  law.  The  bust  of  Lafayette  stood  on  the  platform.  These  were 
his  closing  words:  "Speak,  speak  marble  lips.  Teach  us  the  love  of  liberty 
protected  by  law. ' ' 

During  the  last  thirty  years,  the  French  people  after  infinite  sufferings 
and  struggling,  through  difficulties  immeasurably  greater  than  any  through 
which  the  American  people  have  passed,  save  one,  the  civil  wTar,  have 
succeeded  in  embodying  this  love  of  liberty  protected  by  law  in  stable 
free  institutions.  [Applause.]  The  sympathy  of  the  American  people  has 
gone  out  to  them  warmly  and  in  a  rising  flood  through  these  three 
decades. 

It  is  with  profound  rejoicing  that  we  see  planted  firmly  in  Europe  two 
republics — little  Switzerland  and  great  France  [applause] ;  and  whenever 
we  call  to  mind  the  aid  which  the  French  monarch  gave  to  our  nascent 
Republic,  we  think  with  joy  that  our  revolutionary  struggle  and  our  subse 
quent  experiences  have  contributed  to  the  later  development  in  France 
of  a  strong  and  prosperous  Republic.  [Applause.] 

The  chief  of  the  Mission,  General  Brugere,  who  next  spoke, 
was  roundly  applauded,  it  being  his  last  public  utterance  while 
with  the  Mission  in  America: 

THE   ARMY   OF   FRANCE 

It  has  been  a  great  honor  for  me  to  come  to  America  and  represent 
France  at  the  celebration  in  honor  of  ROCHAMBEAU.  As  a  soldier  I  have 
stated  on  board  the  Gaulois,  in  the  presence  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  what  I  think  of  the  American  Army.  On  the  present  occasion  I 
limit  myself  to  bringing  to  this  gathering  the  cordial  salute  which  I  now 
offer  to  the  comrades  of  your  splendid  American  Army. 

As  chief  of  the  French  Mission  and  as  a  Frenchman  my  heart  overflows 
with  a  sense  of  the  friendly  reception  the  Mission  has  met  in  this  coun 
try — a  reception  abounding  in  its  sympathy  and  enthusiasm.  Indeed  it 
has  been  magnificent.  We  have  had  the  welcome  repeated  all  the  way 
from  Washington.  We  are  now  obliged  to  return  to  France,  and  before 
leaving  Boston  I  want  to  say  that  we  members  of  the  Mission  will  carry 
away  with  us  an  imperishable  memory  of  the  sojourn,  all  too  short,  that 
we  have  passed  upon  this  hospitable  American  soil.  All  of  us  feel  that 
the  ties  of  friendship  which  united  our  ancestors  more  than  a  century  ago 
bind  us  to-day  more  closely  and  firmly  than  ever. 


212  Boston's  Hospitality 

Let  us  therefore  fill  our  glasses  and  drink  a  toast  to  ' '  The  American 
nation,"  to  this  great  and  powerful  nation  which  has  shown  to  the  whole 
universe  what  an  intelligent,  industrious,  active,  tenacious,  persevering, 
and  generous  nation  is  able  to  create  in  a  relatively  brief  space  of  time 
when  it  rests  upon  liberty  and  justice  and  opposes  despotism  and  anarchy. 
I  drink  to  the  power  and  prosperity  of  the  American  nation. 

The  vast  interests  of  commerce  also  held  a  place  in  these 
parting  exchanges  of  sentiments,  through  William  H.  Lincoln, 
president  of  the  Boston  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

THE  WHITE  WINGS  OF  COMMERCE 

After  an  interesting  presentation  of  the  benign  influence  of 
commerce  upon  the  world,  and  the  conspicuous  part  borne  by 
Boston  in  its  development  in  shipbuilding  and  enterprise  in 
America,  Mr.  Lincoln  concluded: 

I  am  happy  to  have  this  opportunity  to  unite  in  the  greeting  so  heartily 
extended  to  our  distinguished  guests  and  to  congratulate  them  upon  the 
felicitous  occasion  that  brings  them  to  our  shores.  You  are  on  historic 
ground,  made  sacred  by  the  blood  of  martyrs  to  liberty  and  hallowed  by 
the  footsteps  of  your  own  gallant  ROCHAMBEAU  and  your  immortal  La 
fayette.  He  assisted  in  laying  the  foundation  of  yonder  monument,  erected 
to  commemorate  the  first  great  battle  in  the  struggle  for  independence,  and 
the  distinguished  orator  of  the  occasion,  amid  the  acclaim  of  assembled 
thousands,  recognized  his  presence  in  words  of  eloquence  and  lofty  praise. 
*  *  *  His  name  and  his  virtues  will  be  forever  linked  with  those  of 
ROCHAMBEAU,  the  distinguished  general  who,  with  his  army  of  trained 
veterans,  cooperated  so  successfully  with  Washington  in  the  movements 
that  culminated  in  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  and  achieved  the  inde 
pendence  of  the  Colonies. 

They  sleep  in  their  native  land,  but  the  influence  of  their  lives  remain 
to  perpetuate  the  love,  the  gratitude,  and  the  admiration  of  all  people  of 
this  country  for  the  nation  that  gave  them  birth. 

The  ' '  Navy  of  France ' '  formed  an  interesting  theme  by  a 
worthy  successor  of  DeTernay  and  De  Grasse,  Admiral  Fournier. 
He  said: 

THE   NAVY   OF    FRANCE 

I  shall  begin  by  thanking  the  mayor  for  the  honor  he  has  done  me.  I 
am  expected  to  say  what  I  think  of  the  American  nation.  To  do  that 
would  indeed  be  to  say  a  great  deal.  It  would  be  difficult  for  me  to  ex 
press  all  the  gratitude  which  I  and  my  compatriots  have  for  you  Americans. 
It  is  impossible  to  find  sentiments  lofty  enough  to  do  this. 


Boston's  Hospitality  213 

Our  sojourn  in  your  country  has  been  throughout  one  of  enchantment. 
It  has  been  a  round  of  enchantment  from  Washington  to  New  York  and 
from  New  York  to  Boston.  At  Washington  we  saw  the  head  of  your  Gov 
ernment;  at  New  York  we  felt  the  beatings  of  the  heart  of  your  country; 
in  Boston  our  sensation  has  been  more  delicate  and  refined,  for  we  have 
felt  the  soul  of  America.  It  is  here  that  we  joined  the  center  of  your  intel 
lectual  life — of  your  thoughts,  of  your  ideals,  of  your  arts  and  sciences.  It 
was  here  .that  the  vigorous  germ  of  revolution  sprang  up  and  turned  Amer 
ica  into  new  paths,  along  which  she  was  to  meet  with  France  on  the  field 
of  battle. 

I  just  want  to  say — though  perhaps  it  is  the  excellent  dinner  we  have 
had  that  makes  us  so  enthusiastic — that  everything  is  perfect  in  America. 
I  want  to  praisp  its  educational  system,  and  especially  the  institution 
which  we  visited  this  afternoon.  You  have  here  an  excellent  system — 
moral,  professional,  intellectual,  and  family-like.  These  same  qualities 
which  characterize  the  American  marine  I  find  distributed  even  among 
your  educational  institutions.  I  don't  know  anything  more  complete 
than  Harvard  University.  For  there,  as  in  your  marine,  you  train  men 
in  the  principles  most  sure  to  give  victory.  Grant  that  we  Frenchmen 
and  you  Americans  may  be  rivals,  but  never  opponents;  friends,  but  never 
enemies. 

The  finale  of  the  varied  and  interesting  series  of  addresses 
which  characterized  the  presence  of  the  ROCHAMBKAU  Mission 
was  the  remarks  of  the  dean  of  the  Sorbonne,  M.  Croiset,  of 
the  Institute  of  France,  in  a  parting  compliment  to  the  "Athens 
of  America."  He  said: 

THE  INSTITUTE  OF  FRANCE 

I  can  not  say  too  much  in  praise  of  the  city  of  Boston,  of  your  mayor, 
and  of  the  generous  hospitality  with  which  we  have  been  treated.  At  the 
moment  of  our  departure  it  leaves  us  full  of  regret  and  with  a  mingled 
sense  of  charm  and  gratitude. 

Boston  has  been  called  the  center  of  America.  Certainly  it  has  no 
rival.  It  is  active,  industrious,  independent.  You  have  succeeded  in  unit 
ing  two  things— activity  and  power  of  administration.  Boston  is  thus  a 
chef-d'oeuvre  and  an  example  for  the  imitation  of  the  whole  world.  We 
have  had  to-day,  by  a  supreme  coquetterie  of  nature,  beautiful  sunshine, 
and  so  we  take  away  with  us  the  memory  of  all  the  beautiful  things  we  have 
seen  here. 

The  ladies  of  the  party,  returning  from  an  entertainment  of 
their  own,  entered  the  banquet  hall  to  listen  to  the  speeches, 
where  they  were  accommodated  with  chairs,  and  remained  until 
the  close. 


214  'Boston's  Hospitality 

GUESTS 
The  following  were  the  guests  on  the  memorable  occasion: 

MAIN   TABLE 

Patrick  A.  Collins,  Mayor  of  Boston 

Right. — M.  Cambon,  French  ambassador;  Vice-Admiral  Fournier,  in 
spector  of  the  French  navy;  Herbert  H.  Peirce,  Third  Assistant  Secretary 
of  State,  chairman  President's  commission;  General  Chalendar,  commander 
1 4th  Infantry  Brigade,  French  army;  T.  Jefferson  Coolidge,  former  am 
bassador  to  France;  Comte  de  Rochambeau. 

Left. — General  Brugere,  general  of  division,  vice-president  of  the  su 
preme  council  of  France;  John  L.  Bates,  lieutenant-governor  of  Massachu 
setts;  Charles  W.  Eliot,  president  of  Harvard  University;  M.  Croiset, 
member  of  the  French  Institute,  dean  of  the  Faculty  of  Letters  of  Paris; 
Col.  T.  A.  Bingham,  U.  S.  Army,  member  of  President's  commission; 
Lieut.  Col.  Meaux  Saint  Marc,  aid-de-camp  and  personal  representative 
of  Emile  Loubet,  President  of  the  Republic  of  France. 

TABLE  PROLONGED  OPPOSITE  THE  CENTER  OF  THE  MAIN  TABLE 

Right. — Representatives  of  the  Boston  press;  Brig.  Gen.  Samuel  Dalton, 
adjutant-general  of  Massachusetts;  Gen.  Henry  B.  Carrington,  LL.D.; 
A.  E.  Grozier,  editor  Post;  Arthur  W.  Dolan,  president  common  council; 
Thomas  F.  Edwards,  lieutenant-colonel  First  Corps  Cadets;  Robert  Grant, 
judge  probate  court;  James  Morgan,  assistant  editor  Globe;  Gordon 
Abbott,  president  Massachusetts  electric  companies;  Herbert  S.  Under 
wood,  managing  editor  Advertiser  and  Record;  Charles  E.  Adams,  presi 
dent  Massachusetts  State  board  of  trade;  Capt.  George  R.  H.  Buffington, 
commander  Massachusetts  Naval  Brigade  Volunteer  Militia;  Henri  Morand, 
instructor  in  French,  public  schools;  Elisha  N.  Pierce,  president  Minute 
Men  of  1861;  Henry  F.  Chandler,  president  Medal  of  Honor  Legion  of 
Boston  and  vicinity;  Charles  C.  Hoyt,  Boston  Boot  and  Shoe  Club; 
Martial  E.  Lebon,  reception  committee. 

Left. — Representatives  of  the  Boston  press;  Col.  Melvin  O.  Adams; 
Edwin  E.  Curtis,  former  mayor;  Thomas  J.  Gargan,  vice-president  Irish- 
American  Historical  Society;  Curtis  Guild,  jr.,  reception  committee; 
Edwin  P.  Seaver,  superintendent  of  schools;  Captain  Hemphill,  U.  S.  S. 
Kearsarge;  Rev.  Elmer  H.  Capen,  president  Tufts  College;  Elias  J.  Bliss, 
president  Massachusetts  Society  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution;  Nathan 
Matthews,  jr.,  former  mayor;  John  F.  Brown,  chief  justice  municipal 
court;  Stephen  O'Meara,  editor  Journal;  Edmund  A.  MacDonald,  city 
collector;  Maj.  George  T.  H.  Murray,  commander  Massachusetts  Division 


Boston's  Hospitality  215 

Legion  Spanish  War  Veterans;  Eugene  S.  Sullivan,  water  commissioner; 
John  M.  Minton,  chairman  election  commission;  Michael  P.  Curran, 
secretary  to  the  mayor. 

OUTSIDE   PARAI^EI,  TABLES 

Right. — Commander  Raymond  P.  Rodgers,  U.  S.  Navy,  member  Presi 
dent's  commission;  George  A.  Hibbard,  postmaster;  Prof.  Charles  H. 
Grandgent,  chairman  French  department,  Harvard  University;  Robert  de 
Billy,  secretary  French  embassy;  Camille  Thurwanger,  president  du  Cer- 
cle  Franfais  d' Alliance,  Boston;  Lieut.  Col.  Viscount  de  Faramond,  naval 
attache,  French  embassy;  Rufus  A.  Soule,  president  Massachusetts  sen 
ate;  Rear- Admiral  Higginson,  U.  S.  Navy,  commanding  North  Atlantic 
squadron;  Capt.  Etienne  Fillonneau,  aid-de-camp  to  General  Brug£re; 
Captain  Lyon,  U.  S.  S.  Olympia;  M.  Victor  Ayguesparsse,  attache"  French 
embassy;  Samuel  A.  Green,  M.  D.,  former  mayor;  Joseph  H.  O'Neill, 
reception  committee;  Thomas  N.  Hart,  former  mayor;  Edwin  Ginn,  Ameri 
can  Peace  Society;  Dr.  Francis  H.  Brown,  president  Massachusetts  Society 
Sons  of  the  Revolution;  James  P.  Baxter,  president  New  England  His 
torical  Genealogical  Society;  lieutenant  Evans,  aid  to  Captain  Lyon, 
U.  S.  S.  Olympia;  Gen.  Howard  Stevens;  Oscar  H.  Sampson,  president 
Merchants'  Association;  Winand  Toussaint. 

Left.  —Rear- Admiral  George  E.  Belknap,  U.  S.  Navy;  M.  de  Margerie, 
counselor  French  embassy;  lieutenant-Colonel  Hermite,  commander 
Sixth  Foot  Artillery,  French  army;  Alphonse  Brun,  instructor  of  French, 
Harvard  University;  Robert  M.  Burnett,  chairman  reception  committee; 
Jules  Breufve",  chancellor  French  embassy;  Duncan  Bailly-Blanchard,  vice- 
consul  of  France,  Boston;  Morin  la  Meslee,  Del^gue"  de  1' Alliance  Fran- 
faise  groupe  de  Cambridge  et  Boston,  Harvard  University;  Capt.  Pouil- 
loiie  de  Saint-Mars,  artillery,  French  army;  Gen.  Wilmow  W.  Blackmar, 
commander  Massachusetts  Division  G.  A.  R. ;  Comte  Antoine  de  Breda; 
Arthur  J.  C.  Sowdon,  governor  Society  of  Colonial  Wars;  Brig.  Gen.  T.  R. 
Matthews,  First  Brigade  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Militia;  Edward  H. 
Clement,  editor  Transcript;  J.  C.  Flamand,  reception  committee;  Winslow 
Warren,  president  Massachusetts  Society  of  the  Cincinnati;  Rev.  William  F. 
Warren,  president  Boston  University;  William  Craig,  president  Fruit  and 
Produce  Exchange;  Frederick  H.  Viaux,  treasurer  Real  Estate  Exchange; 
E.  M.  Poitevin,  vice-president  St.  Jean  Baptiste  Socie"te". 

OUTSIDE  PARAUvEI,  TABI.E 

Right. — Rear- Admiral  Mortimer  L.  Johnson,  commandant  Charlestown 
Navy- Yard;  Jean  Guillemin,  subdirector  of  the  cabinet  of  the  French 
foreign  minister;  Charles  P.  Lebon,  instructor  of  French  in  English  high 
school;  Major  Berthelot,  aid-de-camp  to  General  Brugere;  Edward  L. 
Osgood,  reception  committee;  Lieut.  Andre"  Sauvaire-Jourdan,  aid-de-camp 


2i6  Boston's  Hospitality 

to  Vice- Admiral  Fournier;  John  J.  Collins,  reception  committee;  Lieut. 
Baron  Maximilien  de  Reinach  de  Werth,  aid-de-camp  to  Vice- Admiral 
Fournier;  Col.  John  E.  Tiernon,  U.  S.  Artillery  Corps;  M.  Louis  Hermite, 
secretary  French  embassy;  Judge  Le  Baron  B.  Colt,  United  States  circuit 
court;  Maj.  Gen.  William  A.  Bancroft,  commander  Military  Order  of  For 
eign  Wars  of  the  United  States;  Augustine  Heard,  ex-minister  to  Korea, 
aid  to  Rear- Admiral  Higginson;  T.  Richard  Carter,  president  Associate 
Board  of  Trade;  Capt.  A.  W.  Chase,  U.  S.  Artillery  Corps,  aid  to  Colonel 
Tiernon;  Edgar  Van  Etten;  John  H.  Fahey,  New  England  representative 
Associated  Press;  Patrick  J.  Kennedy,  commissioner;  George  A.  Kimball, 
president  Boston  Society  of  Civil  Engineers. 

Left. — Count  de  Sahune  de  Lafayette;  Captain  de  Surgy,  battle  ship  Le 
Gaulois;  W.  H.  Lincoln,  president  chamber  of  commerce;  M.  Lagrave, 
French  ministry  of  commerce;  Arthur  Dixey,  president  Cercle  Francais, 
Harvard  University;  M.  Renouard,  painter  and  engraver,  representing  min 
istry  of  public  instruction,  France;  Philippe  Marcoy,  assistant  professor  of 
Romance  languages,  Harvard  University;  Captain  Vignal,  military  attache 
of  the  French  embassy;  Lieut.  Gustave  Le  Jay,  aid-de-camp  to  Vice- Admiral 
Fournier;  James  J.  Myers,  speaker  Massachusetts  house  of  representatives; 
Captain  Lasson,  attache*  general  staff  governor  of  Paris;  Robert  S.  Pea- 
body,  president  Boston  Society  of  Architects;  Edwin  V.  Morgan,  secretary 
to  President's  commission;  Walter  Allen,  Herald;  James  H.  Doyle,  chair 
man  board  of  aldermen,  aid  to  Captain  Hemphill;  General  Litchfield,  pub 
lisher  Boston  Traveler;  John  B.  Martin,  penal  institutions  commission; 
Commodore  E.  K.  Moore,  U.  S.  Navy,  aid  to  Rear-Admiral  Johnson;  Capt. 
Frank  Huckins,  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Company;  Thomas  Riley, 
reception  committee. 

In  the  earlier  part  of  the  evening  Mrs.  Alexander  Martin, 
vice-president  of  the  Cercle  Fran?ais  d'Alliance,  gave  a  recep 
tion  to  the  ladies  of  the  Mission  at  her  spacious  mansion,  which 
was  beautifully  decorated  within  with  La  France  and  American 
Beauty  roses  and  waving  palms. 

The  receiving  party  were — 

Mrs.  Martin,  Mme.  Cambon,  Mrs.  Cumston,  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau, 
Mme.  de  Margerie,  Mme.  Vignol,  Mrs.  Peirce. 

The  guests  numbered  several  hundred  of  the  polite  life  of 
Boston.  The  music  was  by  an  orchestra  of  ladies. 


Boston* s  Hospitality  217 

COMTESSE   DE    ROCHAMBEAU'S    PERSONALITY 

The  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau  impressed  everybody,  from  the 
Chief  of  the  Nation  to  little  children,  with  the  charm  of  her 
personality,  grace  of  manner,  and  amiability  of  conversation. 
Speaking  the  American  tongue  quite  fluently,  she  received 
added  pleasure  in  her  association  with  the  distinguished  ladies 
whom  she  met,  and  not  infrequently  made  it  extremely  enjoy 
able  by  being  the  intermediary  of  conversation  between  the 
Comte  arid  his  gentlemen  callers. 

The  visit  was  at  a  sacrifice  of  a  mother's  love,  leaving  in  the 
care  of  others  her  15  months'  old  babe. 

DECORATIONS    FOR   THE    PRESIDENT'S    COMMISSION 

As  a  testimonial  of  recognition  of  the  agreeable  and  satisfac 
tory  manner  in  which  the  President's  commission  had  discharged 
their  duties,  the  Government  of  France  bestowed  upon  Mr. 
Peirce,  chairman,  the  decoration  of  commander,  and  made 
Colonel  Bingham  and  Commander  Rodgers  officers  of  the  Legion 
of  Honor. 

The  medals  were  transmitted  to  the  Department  of  State 
through  Ambassador  Cambon,  there  to  remain  until  Congress, 
by  special  act,  should  grant  permission  to  these  gentlemen  to 
accept  them. 

A    CONSENSUS   OF   OPINION 

Secretary  Peirce  and  Colonel  Bingham,  in  behalf  of  the 
President  as  chief  host  to  ' '  the  guests  of  the  Government  and 
people  of  the  United  States, ' '  mentioned  to  the  members  of  the 
press  the  wholesome  enjoyment  of  the  trip  by  their  distinguished 
charge.  At  each  city  on  the  way  they  received  an  ovation. 
Colonel  Bingham  said: 

The  men  are  splendid  and  the  women  lovely.  Any  little  hitch  was 
taken  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  there  was  no  grumbling.  On  the  contrary, 
the  visitors  appear  to  be  delighted  at  their  reception  in  this  country. 


EVENTS  OF  THE  DAY 

SUNDAY,  JUNE  i 


SANS  ADIEU— AU  REVOIR 
PARTANT  POUR  LA  FRANCE 


218 


OFFICIAL  CHARACTER  OF  GUESTS  ENDED 


After  an  early  breakfast,  at  8.30  a.  m.,  the  guests  drove 
to  the  Cathedral  of  the  Holy  Cross  to  attend  low  mass. 

Returning  to  the  hotel,  the  military  and  naval  members  of 
the  Mission  dispatched  their  luggage  to  the  Gaulois,  which  was 
scheduled  to  sail  in  the  afternoon. 

PARTING    LUNCHEON. 

About  ii  a.  m.  the  entire  party,  including  the  military  and 
naval  members,  bade  '  '  adieux  '  '  and  '  '  au  revoirs  '  '  to  their  Amer 
ican  friends,  and  taking  carriages  drove  to  the  Eastern  avenue 
wharf,  where  the  navy-  yard  tug  conveyed  them  to  the  Gaulois 
to  a  luncheon,  which  would  close  the  fortnight  of  festivities 
attending  the  unveiling  of  the  monument  of  ROCHAMBEAU, 
and  suitably  terminate  their  character  of  '  '  guests  of  the  Gov 
ernment  and  people  of  the  United  States.  '  ' 

The  special  object  was  a  parting  luncheon  to  the  officers  of 
the  escorting  squadron  and  to  those  who  had  entertained  them 
so  generously  in  the  city.  The  entertainment  was  perfect  in 
all  its  appointments.  The  quarter-deck,  by  means  of  a  canopy 
and  flags  and  emblems  of  France  and  America,  was  transformed 
into  a  banquet  room.  The  tables  were  richly  laden  with  plate, 
crystal,  cut  glass,  and  china.  The  china  was  of  the  choicest 
specimens  of  the  fabrique  de  Sevres.  The  crystal,  from  Bac 
carat,  was  tendered  by  President  Loubet  from  the  foysee,  the 
"  President's  House  "  of  France,  for  the  occasion  of  this  com 
memoration. 

The  muzzles  of  the  two  1  2-inch  guns  projecting  overhead 
were  a  reminder  of  war.  The  floral  display  was  tropical  in 

219 


22O  Official  Character  of  Guests  Ended 

profusion,  and  incandescent  lights  sparkled  like  diamonds  among 
the  flowers.  The  display  of  brilliant  uniforms  added  to  the 
resplendent  scene. 

The  after-deck,  with  a  canopy  drawn  overhead,  was  a  thing 
of  beauty  in  floral  decorations,  intermingled  with  colors  of  the 
two  nations. 

There  were  present  as  guests,  representing  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  H.  D.  Peirce,  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Peirce, 
Col.  Theodore  A.  Bingham,  U.  S.  Army,  Commander  Raymond 
P.  Rodgers,  U.  S.  Navy,  and  Edwin  Morgan,  secretary,  mem 
bers  of  the  President's  commission;  representing  the  Common 
wealth  of  Massachusetts,  Samuel  Dalton,  adjutant -general;  the 
city  of  Boston,  Patrick  A.  Collins,  mayor,  and  the  Misses 
Collins;  of  the  United  States  navy-yard  at  Charlestown,  Rear- 
Admiral  Mortimer  Johnson,  Mrs.  and  the  Misses  Johnson,  and 
others;  the  escorting  squadron,  Rear- Admiral  Francis  J.  Hig- 
ginson,  and  Capt.  Henry  Lyon,  flag  lieutenant  of  the  flagship 
Olympia.  The  entire  personnel  of  the  embassy  of  France, 
headed  by  Jules  Cambon,  the  ambassador,  and  Mme.  Cambon, 
M.  and  Mme.  de  Margerie,  Captain  and  Mme.  Vignal,  and 
Comte  and  Comtesse  Rochambeau. 

SPEECHES   AND   GOOD    CHEER 

After  finishing  the  viands  and  entrees,  General  Brugere,  who 
held  the  chief  place,  proposed  (in  French)— 

I  unite  in  my  toast  France  and  America.  Not  the  France  and  America 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  years  ago,  but  the  two  Republics  of  to-day — 
a  toast  to  President  Loubet  of  France  and  to  President  Roosevelt  of  the 
United  States. 

Vice- Admiral  Fournier,  speaking  on  the  close  bonds  of  friend 
ship  between  America  and  France,  said: 

I  wish  to  assure  our  American  friends  of  the  Army  and  Navy  that  we 
are  with  them  heart  and  body. 

He  also  gave  Boston  and  its  people  a  compliment,  saying  the 
only  thing  that  worried  him  at  all  during  his  stay  was  leaving 
Boston  and  her  citizens. 


Official  Character  of  Guests  Ended          221 

Rear- Admiral  Higginson  said: 

My  only  regret  is  that  I  have  to  bid  you  adieu.  I  should  rather  again 
have  to  fire  a  salute  welcoming  you  to  these  shores  than  salute  you  as  you 
leave  to  return  home.  It  seems  to  me  this  Mission  is  appropriate  and  has 
done  a  great  work.  It  has  touched  the  chord  that  existed  in  the  hearts  of 
the  American  people  that  needed  but  a  vibration  to  regain  its  original 
strength.  There  have  been  planted  near  the  White  House  two  statues — 
one  of  Lafayette  and  one  of  ROCHAMBEAU.  They  will  always  be  the 
keys  to  the  heart  of  America. 

As  it  is  now,  when  the  President  leaves  the  White  House,  if  he  goes  to 
the  right  he  passes  the  statue  of  Lafayette;  if  he  goes  to  the  left  he  passes 
that  of  ROCHAMBEAU.  He  can  never  forget  the  friendship  of  France  for 
this  country,  crystallized  as  it  is  in  enduring  bronze. 

No  statues  of  foreigners  can  ever  appeal  to  the  hearts  of  Americans 
more  than  those  of  Lafayette  and  ROCHAMBEAU. 

And  now,  General,  in  parting  with  you  let  me  wish  you  "bon  voyage." 
I  hope  that  when  you  arrive  home  you  will  find  your  interests  have 
been  well  guarded  during  your  absence  and  that  when  you  mount  your 
horse  at  5  o'clock  in  the  morning  everything  will  go  off  in  good  order. 
May  all  the  maneuvers  that  you  direct  come  off  well.  I  hope  the  party 
that  you  attack  will  be  defeated  and  retire  at  the  proper  moment.  But, 
Admiral,  my  dear  sir,  please  remember  the  only  safe  place  is  on  the  sea. 
There  you  will  be  in  no  danger  of  being  run  over  by  automobiles  or  of 
being  struck  down  by  the  "third  rail."  Good  admirals  are  scarce  and 
their  home  is  the  open  sea.  May  the  guns  we  shall  fire  in  salute  this 
afternoon  long  sound  in  your  hearts  the  regret  we  have  at  your  departure. 

Lieut.  Col.  Meaux  Saint  Marc  said: 

It  was  my  duty  when  I  accepted  to  be  a  member  of  the  cabinet  of  Presi 
dent  Loubet.  It  was  my  pleasure  when  I  was  selected  to  represent  the 
President  at  the  celebration  that  took  place  in  Washington.  It  is  my 
honor  to-day,  in  the  name  of  the  President  of  France,  of  whom  I  am  the 
special  representative,  to  hold  my  glass  and  drink  to  the  President  of  this 
country,  Theodore  Roosevelt. 

When  Admiral  Higginson  left  the  ship  the  marine  guard 
paraded  and  stood  at  "present."  As  he  went  over  the  side  he 
received  the  proper  salute  of  13  guns.  When  Admiral  John 
son's  barge  was  called  away  similar  honors  were  given  him  as 
he  stepped  out  on  the  gangway.  The  other  guests  went  ashore 
on  the  navy-yard  tug. 

*  \ 

\ 


222  Official  Character  of  Guests  Ended 

UP    ANCHOR    AND    AWAY 

The  battle  ship  immediately  weighed  anchor  and,  getting 
fairly  under  way,  fired  a  salute  of  21  guns  to  the  port,  which 
was  answered  by  the  Olympia  as  a  special  courtesy.  The  Kear- 
sarge,  taking  her  position  in  the  line,  the  three  great  engines  of 
war,  representing  the  then  nascent  States  and  their  ancient  ally, 
stood  out  to  sea. 

When  clear  of  the  shore,  off  Boston  light,  the  vessels  parted, 
the  Olympia  firing  two  salutes  of  courtesy  (it  being  Sunday  and 
unusual  on  that  day),  17  guns  to  General  Brugere  and  15  to 
Vice- Admiral  Fournier.  The  salutes  were  returned. 

As  the  Gaulois  increased  her  speed,  pointing  to  her  port  of  call, 
Lisbon,  the  Toulon,  Olympia,  and  Kearsarge  stood  back  into  the 
harbor.  The  passengers  on  the  Gaulois  were  the  military  and 
naval  personnel  of  the  Mission. 

The  guests  at  this  parting  hospitality  were: 

Herbert  H.   D.  Peirce,  Colonel  Bingham,  Commander  Rodgers,  repre 
senting  the  President;   Kdwin  Morgan,  secretary. 
The  ladies  present  were: 

Her  Excellency  Mme.  Cambon,  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau,  Mrs.  Herbert 
H.  D.  Peirce,  Mme.  de  Margerie,  Mme.  Vignal,  Mrs.  M.  L,.  Johnson,  the 
Misses  Johnson,  Mrs.  William  J.  Baxter,  Mrs.  Charles  Lebon,  Miss  Collins. 

From  the  Olympia: 

Rear-Admiral  Higginson,  Flag-Lieutenant  Evans,  Capt.  Henry  W. 
Lyon. 

From  the  Boston  Navy- Yard: 

Rear- Admiral  Johnson,  Lieut.  George  C.  Day,  aid;  Naval  Constructor 
William  J.  Baxter. 

The  State  was  represented  by — 
Adjutant-General  Dal  ton. 

The  city  by- 
Mayor  Collins. 

The  others  were: 

Michael  P.  Curran,  Secretary;  Prof.  A.  C.  Coolidge,  of  Harvard;  Prof. 
Charles  I/ebon  and  Marshal  Lebon. 

There  were  seventy  guests  present. 


Official  Character  of  Guests  Ended          223 

PARTING   EXPRESSIONS 

Upon  his  arrival  at  Boston,  General  Brugere  indited  this 
telegraphic  communication  to  the  President: 

His  EXCELLENCY  THEODORE  ROOSEVELT, 

President  of  the  United  States : 

Before  my  departure  for  France,  whither  important  duties  call  me,  I 
desire  to  address  to  you,  Mr.  President,  as  also  to  the  Government  and 
people  of  the  United  States,  the  thanks  of  the  French  Mission  for  the 
kindly  and  warm  welcome  which  it  has  received  in  your  beautiful  country. 
We  take  back  with  us,  after  our  too  short  stay  in  this  hospitable  land, 
lasting  remembrances.  We  have  here  found  brighter  than  ever  the  mem 
ories  of  the  brotherhood  in  arms  which  united  Washington's  soldiers  to 
those  of  ROCHAMBEAU,  and  it  is  particularly  pleasant  to-  me  to  think  that 
our  visit  may  have  contributed  to  draw  still  closer  the  bonds  of  traditional 
friendship  which  for  more  than  a  century  have  existed  between  the  United 
States  and  France. 

Permit  me,  Mr.  President,  to  thank  you  personally  for  the  hearty  kind 
ness  which  you  have  been  pleased  to  manifest  to  me  and  to  inform  you 
that  we  all  entertain  the  best  wishes  for  your  prosperity  and  for  that  of 
the  great  American  nation,  the  friend  of  France. 

The  President  in  reply  wrote  to  General  Brugere: 

WHITE  HOUSE,  Washington,  June  i,  1902. 
GENERAL  BRUGERE,  Care  " Gaulois"  Boston: 

Accept  my  most  hearty  thanks  for  your  courteous  message.  It  has 
given  our  people  genuine  pleasure  not  merely  to  receive  the  embassy  from 
our  great  sister  Republic  on  such  an  occasion  as  this,  but  especially  to 
receive  an  embassy  composed  of  such  men  as  those  whom  President 
Loubet  has  sent  hither.  Your  visit  has  done  good  in  more  ways  than  one, 
and  on  behalf  of  the  American  people,  I  again  desire  to  express  to  you 
how  sincere  has  been  our  welcome  and  to  wish  all  happiness  in  the 
present  and  in  the  future  to  you  and  to  the  nation  you  represent. 

THEODORE  ROOSEVELT. 

A  FAMILY  REMINISCENCE 

It  was  the  first  visit  of  Comte  Rene  de  Rochambeau  to  Amer 
ica.  In  mentioning  the  presence  of  his  father  as  one  of  the 
commissioners  who  represented  France  in  1876  at  the  Centen 
nial  Exposition  at  Philadelphia  and  again  in  1881  at  the  cen 
tennial  of  the  surrender  of  the  British  army  at  Yorktown,  he 
said,  to  the  day  of  his  death  in  1897,  ms  father's  most  pleasing** 


224  Official  Character  of  Guests  Ended 

theme  was  the  greatness  of  the  Republic  which  his  ancestor 
had  assisted  in  releasing  from  the  sovereignty  of  England. 

The  Count  is  a  descendant  of  the  elder  brother  of  the  com 
mander  in  chief  of  the  French  auxiliary  army  in  America.  The 
Marshal  died  in  18.07,  leaving  one  son,  who  served  under  him 
in  the  States  and  who  attained  the  rank  of  lieutenant-general; 
wa,s  governor  of  Santo  Domingo,  a  French  colony,  and  fell  on  the 
field  of  Leipzig  in  1813,  leaving  two  daughters  and  a  son  named 
Philip.  The  latter  died  in  1868  without  issue.  Not  long  before 
his  death  he  adopted  an  heir,  who  assumed  the  name  and  title. 

The  Chateau  Rochambeau,  at  Vendome,  is  occupied  by  the 
descendants  of  the  elder  brother  of  the  Marshal,  and  is  the 
home  of  the  Count  who  represented  the  name  and  family  at 
the  unveiling. 

Comte  and  Comtesse  de  Rochambeau  at  midnight  left  for 
New  York  en  route  to  St.  Louis  as  guests  of  the  Louisiana  Pur 
chase  Exposition.  An  invitation  to  visit  the  college  founded 
by  Stephen  Girard,  that  most  enterprising  and  benevolent 
Frenchman,  at  Philadelphia  was  accepted  for  their  return  prior 
to  sailing. 

M.  Croiset  accepted  invitations  to  visit  several  educational 
institutions.  The  rest  of  the  civilian  members  disposed  of  their 
time  prior  to  return  to  France  as  suited  their  opportunities, 
tastes,  and  inclinations. 

The  President's  commission  returned  to  Washington,  hav 
ing  performed  the  courtesies,  hospitalities,  and  honors  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States. 


D'ESTAING 
DE  TERNAY  DE  GRASSE 

,,^  ,,  :T.        ROCHAMBEAU       '   I    ^    5 

DESTOUCHES  DE  BARRAS 

SAINT  SIMON 


NEWPORT  -  SAVANNAH 
1778 

NEWPORT  -  NORTH  RIVER  -  YORKTOWN  -  BOSTON 
1780-1782 


S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 15       •  225 


INTERNATIONAL  CAPITULATIONS 

ALLIANCE:    FRANCE-UNITED-  STATES  OF  AMERICA 
CONVENTIONS  AND  CONTRACTS 

1778-1783 


The  following  were  the  instruments  of  international  agree 
ment  known  as  the  treaty  of  '  '  alliance  '  '  and  of  '  '  amity  and 
commerce  '  '  under  which  the  assistance  of  the  French  King  was 
rendered.  The  moneys  advanced  were  upon  faith  alone  and 
without  guaranty  until  the  struggle  was  over.  The  sums  were 
then  secured  by  compact  between.  the  two  Governments. 

1778,  February  6.  Treaty  of  "alliance"  between  the  United  States  of 
America  and  His  Most  Christian  Majesty.  Pre 
amble  and  thirteen  articles.  Done  at  Paris.  Under 
this  instrument  the  military  and  naval  aid  rendered 
to  the  American  States  by  the  King  of  France  was 
conducted.  The  legal  obligation  of  this  treaty  on 
the  Government  or  citizens  of  the  United  States  was 
abrogated  by  act  of  Congress,  July  7,  1798,  during 
the  Presidency  of  John  Adams. 

1778,  February  6.  Treaty  of  "amity  and  commerce"  between  the  United 
States  of  America  and  His  Most  Christian  Majesty. 
Preamble  and  thirty-one  articles.  Done  at  Paris. 
Annulled  by  act  of  Congress  July  7,  1798. 

1782,  July       16.  Contract  between  the  two  Governments  for  making  a 

particular  statement  of  the  amount  of  pecuniary 
supplies  furnished  by  France  to  the  United  States. 
The  sums  advanced  under  the  title  of  a  loan  in 
the  years  1778,  1779,  1780,  1781,  and  1782  amount 
ing  to  the  sum  of  18,000,000  livres,  money  of 
France.  Done  at  Versailles. 

1783,  February  25.  A  contract  between  His  Most  Christian  Majesty  and 

the  United  States  of  America  '  '  f  or  a  new  advance 
of  6,000,000  livres  tournois  under  the  title  of  a 
loan  and  guaranty  of  the  whole  thirteen  United 
States,  which  the  minister  of  Congress  has  declared 
his  acceptance  of  with  the  liveliest  acknowledg 
ments  in  the  name  of  the  said  States.  '  '  Done  at 
Versailles. 
226 


STORY  OF  THE  PARTICIPATION  OF 

FRANCE 

IN  THE  WAR  OF 
AMERICAN  INDEPENDENCE 

A  CHARACTER  SKETCH  AND  SPECIALIZATION  OF  EVENTS 
By  DEB.  RANDOLPH  KEIM 

The  situation  of  affairs  in  England  was  the  logical  outcome 
of  the  policy  of  repression  toward  her  ever  loyal  and  willing 
self-respecting  Colonies  of  North  America,  which  began  at  the 
close  of  the  Seven  Years'  war.  As  a  result  their  rebellion  had 
deprived  the  great  industries,  manufactures,  and  commerce  of 
the  Mother  Country  of  their  most  extensive  and  remunerative 
markets. 

The  meanest  of  the  ' '  people ' '  (said  Franklin  facetiously)  ' c  we 
and  the  King ' '  were  very  busy  managing  the  affairs  of  ' '  our 
subjects  in  America  "  at  the  outset.  Now  they  were  reaping 
the  result  of  their  pretensions  in  loss  of  trade,  loss  of  employment, 
loss  of  means,  and  among  the  lower  classes,  of  the  necessities  of 
life.  On  the  contrary,  "we  the  people  of  England"  were  now 
shouting  more  uproariously  for  an  "accommodation." 

France  had  become  an  ally  of  the  States,  had  recognized  their 
independence,  and  was  manifesting  a  substantial  earnestness  in 
the  cause  in  money,  supplies,  and  a  naval  and  land  army.  At 
the  same  time  conciliatory  bills  were  rushed  through  the 
British  parliamentary  hopper,  commissions  of  conference  were 
promoted  and  inspired  by  royal  council,  and  boards  of  trade 
turned  loose  upon  the  Colonies  "to  make  any  terms."  The 

227 


228  Specialization  of  Events 

former  were  met  with  indignant  renunciation  by  the  people, 
and  the  latter  were  refused  passports  by  Washington  through 
his  lines  to  get  to-  the  Congress.  That  body  repudiated  the 
entire  outfit,  indorsed  Washington  for  his  prompt  action,  and 
made  formal  expression  of  gratitude  to  the  King  of  France  for 
the  timely  assistance  he  had  placed  at  their  disposal. 

In  the  world  at  large  conditions  were  no  better.  A  great 
fleet  of  60  vessels  patrolled  the  Channel  in  expectation  of  an 
invasion  from  the  mainland.  Paul  Jones  had  probed  the  fiction 
of  "  Britannia,  mistress  of  the  seas."  Russia  and  Holland  were 
combined  to  enforce  the  rights^  of  neutrals  against  the  arrogance 
of  the  British  Admiralty,  the  same  which  led  to  the  second  war 
for  American  independence,  with  conclusive  results.  Ireland 
was  in  a  ferment,  and  religious  rivalries  were  agitating  the  Scot 
and  Briton.  In  the  Indies  of  the  east  success  attended  English 
sea  power  and  commerce.  In  the  Indies  of  the  west  the  fleet 
of  De  Grasse  was  near  at  hand  to  cooperate  at  the  proper 
moment  in  delivering  the  death  blow  at  Yorktown. 

TERMS  OF  THE  "ALLIANCE" 

The  treaty  of  alliance  (1778)  was  negotiated  between  the 
King  of  France  and  the  United  States  of  North  America  col 
lectively  and  severally,  each  State  being  enumerated  in  the  pre 
amble  in  its  geographical  order,  making  the  compact  common 
in  cause  and  effect,  the  supreme  object  being  the  independence 
of  the  said  States  of  North  America.  There  was  to  be  concur 
rence  of  action,  both  offensive  and  defensive.  All  or  any  con 
quests  in  the  northern  parts  of  America  or  of  the  islands  of  the 
Bermudas  were  to  be  confederated  with  or  dependent  upon  the 
said  States.  France  relinquished  all  claim  to  the  Bermudas  and 
to  any  parts  of  the  continent  of  North  America  which  before  the 
treaty  of  Paris  (1763)  were  acknowledged  to  belong  to  the 
Crown  of  Great  Britain  or  to  the  United  States,  then  called 
"British  Colonies."  The  islands  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  were 
to  appertain  to  the  Crown  of  France.  Neither  of  the  contract 
ing  parties  could  conclude  a  treaty  without  the  consent  of  the 
other.  In  every  particular  the  operations  and  benefits  of  war 


228 

with  indignant  renunci:  the  people, 

ton  through 

his  1  ;et  to  t:  That  ;>ndiated  the 

i   for  his  •   action,  and 

made  formal  expr  gratitude  to  the  King  of  France  for 

the  time  :ad  placed  at  their  disposal. 

In  the  10  better.     A  great 

fleet  nation  of  an 


i 

of  the  British  Ac 
for  A 

was  in  a  ferment,  and  re  agitating  the 

and  Briton.     In  i  Attended  English 

sea  power  and  C(£HARLES  HENRI,  COMTE  D'ESTAING  the  fleet 

0^h^z^^^dr^  4*  R^-teewfriaut-Ginlral  de  ses  Armees,  l^ice-Amiral  de  France 

moment  in  r 


pre 
amble  in  its  i.  rig  the  compact  common 
in  cause  and  effect,  the  supreme  object  being  the  independence 
of  tbe  said  States  of  North  America.  There  was  to  be  concur 
rence  of  action,  both  offensive  and  defensive.  All  or  any  con- 
•que*ts  in  the  northern  parts  of  America  or  of  the  islands  of  the 
Bermudas  W«fe  to  be  confederated  with  or  dependent  upon  the 
said  Stales  France  relinquished  all  claim  to  the  Bermudas  and 
to  any  parts* »f  the  continent  of  North  Before  the 
treaty  of  Paris  were  ack  ^  to  the 
Crown  of  Great  or  to  th  i  States,  then  called 
"British  Colonie*.'  nds  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  were 
to  appertain  to  \  <  of  France.  Neither  of  the  contract 
ing  parties  could  com  htdv  a  treaty  without  the  consent  of  the 
other.  In  every  pa  he  operations  and  benefits  of  war 


Specialization  of  Events  229 

and  the  stipulations  of  peace  were  to  be  for  the  mutual  benefit 
of  the  States  and  France.  Upon  these  general  lines  Count 
D'Estaing  spread  sail  for  the  American  shores  and  inaugurated 
one  of  the  most  extraordinary  instances  on  record  of  bringing 
succor  to  a  people  struggling  for  the  inalienable  rights  of  man 
and  autonomy  in  the  intercourse  of  nations. 

EXPEDITION  OF  D'ESTAING:  1778-79 

Upon  receiving  the  commands  of  his  King  (L,e  Roi  Soleil) 
and  orders  of  the  ministry,  M.  le  Comte  D'Estaing  at  once 
repaired  to  Toulon,  the  chief  naval  station  of  France  on  the 
Mediterranean,  and  collected  his  ships.  Within  the  brief  space 
of  two  months  after  the  signing  of  the  treaty  of  alliance  he  had 
brought  together  a  powerful  fleet  and  proportionate  land  force 
in  efficient  condition  for  the  inauguration  of  the  map-making, 
world-power  building  task  which  L,ouis  XVI,  King  of  France 
and  Navarre,  had  undertaken  in  terms  of  a  solemn  compact. 

FIRST   FRKNCH   FI.EET 

The  fleet  of  D'Estaing,  as  it  sailed  out  of  the  harbor  of 
Toulon,  France,  on  April  13,  1778,  consisted  of  11  ships  of  the 
line,  mounting  776  guns;  10  frigates,  508  guns;  3  corvettes, 
108  guns,  and  i  cutter,  2  guns,  making  a  total  of  25  vessels, 
1,394  guns  manned  by  11,777  officers,  volunteers,  and  seamen, 
distributed  as  follows. 


230 


Specialization  of  Events 


Fleet  of  D'Estaing. 

[D'Estaiiig  (Charles   Henri   Theodat,  Comte    de),  admiral,   lieutenant-general   naval 
armies  of  France.] 


Ship. 

Class. 

Commander. 

4 

a 

3 
0 

t 

Volunteers. 

E 

u 

Total. 

FIRST   SQUADRON. 

I<e    I,anguedoc   (flagship 
of  fleet). 

I,e  Zele 

Ship  of  the 
line. 

.    .do... 

Boulaer  Villiers,  un 
der  orders  of  D'Es- 
taing. 
Barras  

80' 
*1 

38 
17 

14 

777 
486 

875 
507 

do 

Suff  ren  

61 

13 

419 

43  2 

do 

Gtyouilly 

(-,} 

42 

14 

434 

49° 

SECOND   SQUADRON. 

I,e  Tonnant  (flagship).  ..  . 

Ship  of  the 
line. 

do  ... 

Breugnon,      chief; 
Bruyerds,       com 
mandant. 
Poype-Vertrieux  

74 
74 

22 
19 

3 

685 
584 

707 
606 

do 

Peynier         

6,1 

19 

y 

536 

552 

6J 

J4 

^QI 

40  s 

do 

Champorcin    

*1 

14 

408 

422 

I,e  Fier 

do  

Turpin  

A 

•24 

413 

437 

do 

Bougainville  

(Si 

22 

400 

422 

ly'Amphion 

do  

Perron  de  Guengo  .  .  . 

3 

22 

5 

417 

444 

THIRD   SQUADRON. 

L,e  Cesar  (flagship)  

Ship  of  the 
line. 

do  

Broves,   chief;    Ray- 
mondis,    comman 
dant. 
Retz  

74 
A1 

21 
23 

515 

594 

536 
617 

FOURTH    SQUADRON. 

I/Annibal  (flagship)  
t,e  Pendant    

Ship  of  the 
line. 

do  

Ternay,    chief;    Me- 
dine]!  commandant. 

Vaudreuil  

80 
/74 

44 

21 

.... 

1,337 
600 

1,381 
621 

Twice  equipped  frigates: 

D'Escars 

(••• 

344 
•u8 

344 
1.28 

1,'Andromaque  
L,a  Concorde  
I«a  Chimere  
I,'  Amiable  

do  
do  
do  
do  

Chanaliere  .*  
Gardeurde  Tilly  
Saint-Cezaire  
Sainte-Eulalie  

I 

POO  JO  0 

316 
285 
225 

2^1 

329 
295 
240 
240 

Corvette 

De  Bonneval  

36 

II 

106 

207 

I,e  Blanche  

do...... 

Boncalt  

3^ 

22 

269 

291 

I/Etourdie 

do 

Montbas    

36 

8 

150 

I/Alerte 

Cutter 

Capellis 

2 

64 

60 

In  addition  to  the  navigation  and  gun  complement  were  the 
land  troops  of  the  Agenois,  D'Hainault,  Dillon,  Foix  (sharp 
shooters),  Gatenais,  and  Walsh  regiments,  aggregating  about 
3,600  men,  making  a  total  strength  of  15,377. 


Specialization  of  Events  231 

CHARACTERISTICS   OF   THE    FLEET 

Among  these  vessels  were  some  of  the  largest  and  best 
equipped  afloat,  an  evidence  of  the  zeal  with  which  the  King 
undertook  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  ' '  alliance. ' '  The 
Hannibal  {L'  Annibal)  was  a  ship  of  the  line,  without  a  superior 
in  efficiency,  carrying  80  guns  and  1,381  officers  and  seamen, 
more  than  the  number  of  the  largest  regiment  of  infantry  on  a 
war  footing.  The  Lanquedoc,  D'Estaing's  flagship,  another 
famous  craft,  carried  the  same  weight  of  metal  and  almost  a 
regiment  of  men.  There  were  also  4  seventy-fours  and  10 
sixty-fours,  all  of  superior  class,  not  to  speak  of  the  vessels  of 
smaller  batteries. 

The  ships  of  the  line,  corresponding  to  the  modern  battle 
ship,  and  the  frigates,  rating  as  armored  cruisers,  show  a 
fighting  ratio  equal  to  a  modern  squadron  of  the  best  type. 

FIRST   MINISTER   TO   THE   UNITED   STATES   ABOARD 

Accompanying  the  fleet  as  guests  were  M.  Conrad  Alexander 
Gerard  de  Reyneval,  first  minister  to  the  recognized  inde 
pendent  United  States  of  America  under  the  "alliance,"  and 
former  American  commissioner;  Silas  Deane,  first  secret  agent 
of  the  United  States  to  France,  who  had  done  so  much  to  bring 
about  the  accord  between  France  and  the  United  States  in  the 
earliest  days  of  the  conflict,  and  five  officers  of  the  American 
Navy,  whose  familiarity  with  the  coast  was  expected  to  be  of 
service  to  the  Admiral  as  he  neared  his  destination. 

A   RUSE    DE    GUERRE 

The  ships  of  Great  Britain  were  supposed  to  be  on  the  watch 
for  the  expected  assistance  from  the  "alliance."  As  a  ruse, 
M.  Gerard,  under  the  alias  Count  de  Munster,  a  title  conferred 
for  the  purpose  of  deception,  Commissioner  Deane,  and  the 
American  naval  officers,  set  sail  independently,  ostensibly  for 
Antibes,  an  obscure  seaport  to  the  eastward,  with  a  preconcerted 
arrangement  to  get  aboard  as  the  fleet  passed  the  Hyeres 
Islands,  off  the  port  of  that  name,  15  miles  out  of  Toulon. 


232  Specialization  of  Events 

It  was  spread  abroad  that  the  fleet  had  sailed  for  Brest.  In 
fact,  such  was  the  belief  of  the  officers  and  crews. 

The  sealed  orders,  by  the  King's  command,  were  not  to  be 
opened  until  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar  were  astern  and  the 
ships  fairly  out  on  the  Atlantic.  The  only  parties  having  a 
knowledge  of  the  real  destination  were  D'Estaing,  Gerard, 
Deane,  and  the  American  naval  officers. 

'GAINST  WIND  AND  TIDE 

The  breezes  were  light,  fickle,  and  contrary.  For  more  than 
a  month,  beating,  tacking,  drifting,  tossing  about,  and  otherwise 
wasting  time  and  brawn  against  tide  and  wind  was  the  order 
of  the  day  and  duty  in  the  night  before  leaving  the  Mediter 
ranean,  the  latter  feat,  not  having  been  accomplished  until 
May  17-18. 

OPEN  ORDERS 

Three  days  later,  under  full  sail  westward,  from  the  masthead 
of  the  Lanquedoc  suddenly  broke  out  the  Admiral's  signal, 
"  Captains,  break  seals  for  orders."  Thus  they  first  learned  of 
their  .destination,  the  Admiral  himself  being  ordered  to  open 
hostilities. 

On  deck,  at  the  same  moment,  was  celebrated  high  mass  in 
the  presence  of  the  Admiral,  surrounded  by  his  staff,  all  in  full- 
dress  uniform.  M.  De  Reyneval,  now  saluted  plenipotentiary 
of  France  to  the  United  States,  stood  by  his  side.  The 
admiral's  pennant  was  raised  and  the  royal  standard  displayed. 

A  swift  sailor,  La  Flore,  which  accompanied  the  fleet  for  the 
purpose,  bent  all  sail  for  the  shores  of  France,  bearing  to  the 
King,  "Orders  opened;  all' swell." 

Not  only  was  this  the  beginning  of  the  eventful  participation 
of  France  in  the  war  for  American  independence,  but  the  decla 
ration  of  war  against  Great  Britain,  in  behalf  of  the  offensive 
and  defensive  compact  between  L,ouis  XVI,  King  of  France 
and  Navarre  and  the  Confederation  of  the  American  States. 
Great  was  the  enthusiasm  which  rang  through  the  ships. 
' '  Vive  le  Roi !  "  "  Vive  les  fitats ! ' ' 


Specialization  of  Events  233 

POINTED    FOR    THE    DELAWARE 

The  royal  instructions  to  D'Hstaing  were  to  direct  his  course 
for  the  Delaware  River.  In  order  to  be  prepared  for  eventuali 
ties,  he  had  been  supplied  by  the  King  with  an  exact  account 
of  the  naval  strength  of  Great  Britain  in  America. 

His  chief  effort  now  was  to  reach  his  destination  in  advance 
of  the  British  admiral,  who  was  also  on  the  way  with  reenforce- 
ments.  If  D'Hstaing  could  blockade  the  Delaware,  and,  with 
the  cooperation  of  Washington,  trap  Howe  and  Clinton  in  Phil 
adelphia,  it  would  be  a  great  achievement. 

PLENARY  POWERS  AND  ORDERS 

He  was  vested  with  plenary  powers  in  all  matters  appertain 
ing  to  his  fleet  after  reaching  the  Delaware. 

The  specific  requirements  in  some  respects  gave  the  expedi 
tion  more  the  character  of  a  raid  on  British  naval  strength  and 
commerce  on  the  American  coast  than  of  a  naval  campaign. 
No  prisoners  were  to  be  landed  except  under  promise  of  the 
American  Government  not  to  release  them  until  the  King's  con 
sent  had  been  given;  he  was  to  advance  the  King's  interests  in 
every  way  and  to  act  separately  or  in  conjunction  with  the 
United  States  as  he  saw  fit;  he  might  attack  the  English  in 
any  part  of  North  America,  but  he  was  not  to  attempt  the  con 
quest  of  any  part  of.  the  American  mainland;  he  might  take 
some  island,  useful  commercially  or  as  a  fishing  station,  by 
force  or  by  negotiation  with  the  United  States;  he  might  coop 
erate  with  any  hostile  movements  on  the  part  of  the  States 
against  Nova  Scotia,  having  first  had  an  agreement  about 
fishing  concessions  for  France  and  Spain. 

If  he  found  the  British  naval  strength  superior  upon  his 
arrival  he  was  to  head  for  Boston  or  a  French  island. 

An  answer  to  the  allegation  often  made,  that  the  motive  of 
the  French  King  in  assisting  the  States  was  the  hope  of  regaining 
Canada,  is  the  Count's  instructions  prohibiting  taking  any  part 
in  the  conquest  of  that  country. 


234  Specialization  of  Events 

OFF   THE   DELAWARE    CAPES 

After  a  protracted  voyage  against  baffling  winds  or  no  winds 
at  all,  consuming  eighty-six  days  (Toulon,  April  13;  Delaware, 
July  8,  1778),  D'Estaing  anchored  in  Delaware  Bay. 

As  a  navigator  the  Admiral  proved  a  complete  success. 

He  dropped  anchor  inside  Capes  May  and  Henlopen  without 
the  loss  of  spar  or  man.  On  the  way  up  the  coast  he  cap 
tured  a  number  of  prizes,  all  armed,  in  several  instances 
mounting  14  guns. 

HOWE   HAD    GONE 

His  first  news  from  shore  of  the  escape  of  the  British  fleet 
out  of  the  Delaware,  was  a  disappointment.  Not  to  be  trapped, 
Howe  had  just  left  that  river  for  the  more  secure  waters  of 
Sandy  Hook.  As  his  fleet  consisted  of  but  6  sixty-fours,  3 
fifties,  and  2  forties,  their  destruction  by  the  powerful  vessels 
of  D'Estaing  would  have  been  inevitable. 

so  HAD  CLINTON 

The  land  forces  of  the  British,  now  under  Clinton,  also  evacu 
ated  Philadelphia  in  time,  and  Congress,  which  had  been  sitting 
at  York,  Pa. ,  resumed  its  sessions  at  that  city  on  June  30.  It 
was  a  gratification,  however,  to  hear  of  the  rough  handling  of 
the  British  at  Monmouth  and  their  midnight  stealing  away, 
with  camp  fires  burning,  to  the  cover  of  Howe's  fleet  at 
Sandy  Hook.  About  three  weeks  earlier  would  have  told  a 
different  story. 

The  Chimere,  Saint  Cezaire,  a  36-gun  frigate,  conveyed  M. 
Gerard  and  Deane  to  Philadelphia. 

CONGRESS   AND    WASHINGTON    INFORMED 

D'Estaing  got  in  touch  with  Congress  and  General  Wash 
ington  at  the  earliest  moment,  to  ascertain  the  views  of  the 
former  and  the  plans  of  the  latter. 


Specialisation  of  Events  235 

The  tenor  of  the  Admiral's  letter,  and  what  might  have  been 
fairly  anticipated  from  his  instructions,  presents  a  very  grati 
fying  view  of  his  character  and  purposes,  particularly  in  his 
willingness  to  assist  the  States. 

D'ESTAING  TO  WASHINGTON 

In  Count  D'Estaing's  first  communication  to  General  Wash 
ington,  dated  July  8  and  written  at  sea,  he  said: 

I  have  the  honor  to  inform  your  excellency  of  the  arrival  of  the  King's 
fleet,  charged  by  His  Majesty  with  the  glorious  task  of  giving  his  allies,  the 
United  States  of  America,  the  most  striking  proofs  of  his  affection.  If  I  can 
succeed  in  it,  nothing  will  be  wanting  to  my  happiness;  and  this  will  be 
augmented  by  the  consideration  of  concerting  my  operations  with  such  a 
general  as  your  excellency.  The  talents  and  the  great  actions  of  General 
Washington  have  secured  to  him  in  the  eyes  of  all  Europe  the  truly  sub 
lime  title  of  "Liberator  of  America." 

Accept,  sir,  the  homage  which  every  man,  and  especially  every  military 
man,  owes  you;  and  be  not  displeased  that  I  solicit,  even  in  the  first  instance 
of  intercourse,  with  military  and  naval  frankness,  a  friendship  so  flattering 
as  yours.  I  will  endeavor  to  render  myself  worthy  of  it  by  my  respectful 
devotion  to  your  country.  It  is  prescribed  to  me  by  my  orders,  and  my 
heart  accords  with  it. 

On  July  13  the  Count  sent  another  communication,  dated  off 
Sandy  Hook. 

Of  the  leader  of  the  first  expedition  from  France  to  the 
shores  of  the  United  States  be  it  said: 

Charles  Henri  Theodat,  Count  d'Estaing  du  Saillans,  was 
another  son  of  glorious  Auvergne.  The  D'Estaings,  as  .the 
L/afayettes  from  the  same  province,  were  for  generations  close 
to  the  throne,  owing  to  deeds  of  valor  for  the  King.  The  Cha 
teau  Revel  (Ruvel),  where  he  was  born  1729,  but  a  year  short 
of  50  before  his  arrival  in  America,  was  a  place  of  feudal  im- 
portSnce  in  its  earliest  days.  His  father  was  a  marquis  and  a 
lieutenant-general  before  him,  and  his  mother  belonged  to  the 
noted  house  of  Colbert  de  Maulevier.  By  intermarriage  he  was 
a  kinsman  of  L,afayette. 

The  previous  services  of  D'Estaing  pointed  to  him  as  the 
man  of  the  occasion.  The  duty  expected  was  novel  in  every 


236  Specialization  of  Events 

way.  The  most  insistent  of  monarchical  institutions  was  about 
to  depart  from  its  ancient  traditions  and  associate  under  opera 
tion  of  a  convention  with  the  most  advanced  contention  for  the 
rights  of  the  people  and  constitutional  government. 

That  the  results  were  less  effective  than  intended  was  possibly 
the  outcome  of  the  extraordinary  nature  of  the  circumstances 
and  the  newness  of  the  situation  rather  than  a  deficit  in  skill, 
initiation,  and  adaptivity. 

He  began  the  career  of  a  soldier  in  1745,  at  the  early  age  of 
1 6,  as  colonel  of  the  Regiment  Rouerque.  Approaching  the 
beginning  of  the  Seven  Years'  War,  which  yielded  such  a  dis 
astrous  harvest  for  France,  he  became  brigadier,  and  began  his 
earliest  distinction  in  the  opening  year  of  that  struggle  in  India 
by  the  capture  of  Gondeleur. 

He  maintained  for  another  twelve  months  a  most  harassing 
warfare  against  the  treasure-laden  merchantmen  of  the  British- 
East  India  Company.  Although  having  but  two  ships  at  his 
command,  he  captured  many  prizes  and  inflicted  great  damage 
on  sea  and  shore. 

' '  Bobstay ' '  Boscawen,  then  commander  in  chief  of  His  British 
Majesty's  naval  forces  in  that  part  of  the  globe,  was  so  wrought 
up  over  the  elusive  operations  and  conclusive  results  of  D'Es- 
taing  that  he  bent  all  sail  and  started  out  in  pursuit,  finally  cor 
nering  and  capturing  his  agile  foe  in  a  piece  of  naval  coquetry 
'off  the  coast  of  Madras. 

After  a  brief  incarceration,  being  released  on  parole,  our  hero 
again  stirred  up  the  enemy  of  his  country,  especially  his  old 
adversary  Boscawen,  causing  that  ancient  salt  to  declare  if  he 
' '  ever  again  got  the  villain  in  his  power  he  would  chain  him 
to  the  quarter-deck  and  treat  him  like  a  baboon."  He  was 
indeed  captured,  not  by  Boscawen,  near  I/ Orient  as  he  was 
nearing  home.  The  vengeance  of  the  British  Government 
was  inflicted,  by  imprisonment  and  cruel  treatment,  on  the 
pretext  of  violating  his  Madras  parole. 

It  is  therefore  not  necessary  to  add  D'Estaing  heartily  recip 
rocated  the  sentiments  ' '  of  hostile  consideration  ' '  threatened 
by  his  antagonist  in  the  waters  of  the  East  Indies. 


Specialization  of  Events  237 

As  a  result  of  his  busy  career,  at  the  close  of  that  war 
D'Estaing  was  made  lieutenant-general  in  the  naval  armies  of 
France,  and  four  years  after  vice-admiral. 

No  sooner  had  the  worthy  son  of  Auvergne  become  estab 
lished  at  Paris  in  his  well-won  exalted  rank  and  honors,  than  he 
began  a  lively  cruise  in  the  great  sea  of  diplomacy,  directing 
his  best  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  American  States. 

With  the  cooperation  of  Mallebois,  he  prepared  a  memorial, 
taking  to  task  the  timid  policy  in  vogue.  This  document, 
through  the  friendship  of  the  Queen,  both  for  D'Estaing  and 
the  cause  he  espoused,  was  placed  in  the  royal  hands,  and  had 
much  to  do  with  influencing  the  King  in  finally  giving  sanc 
tion  to  the  treaty  of  alliance  and  recognition  of  the  American 
States. 

PREPARING   FOR    D'ESTAING 

On  July  14,  1778,  General  Washington  informed  Governor 
Trumbull  of  the  appearance  of  D'Estaing's  fleet  on  the  coast. 
He  urged  the  importance  of  doing  everything  to  aid  and  coop 
erate  with  it;  also  the  momentary  expectation  of  a  British  pro 
vision  fleet  from  Cork  and  of  the  anxiety  of  the  enemy  for  its 
safety.  He  suggested,  to  avoid  the  French,  they  might  be  sig 
naled  to  reach  New  York  through  the  Sound,  and  he  pressed 
that  the  Eastern  States  should  rendezvous  all  their  frigates  and 
armed  vessels  in  order  to  interrupt  passage  by  that  route.  The 
capture  or  destruction  of  the  whole  or  any  considerable  part  of 
this  fleet  he  said  would  be  a  fatal  blow  to  the  British  army,  now 
needing  supplies.  And  continuing: 

Should  the  project  I  have  now  suggested  appear  to  you  eligible  [an  in 
stance  of  Washington's  habit  when  perplexed,  "Let  us  hear  what '  Brother 
Jonathan'  says"],  communicate  with  the  neighboring  States  to  engage 
their  concurrence. 

GREETINGS   TO   D'ESTAING 

On  the  same  day  General  Washington,  from  his  camp  at 
Paramus,  advised  Count  d'Estaing  of  his  being  informed  (by 
the  President  of  Congress)  of  his  arrival  on  the  coast  with  a 


238  Specialization  of  Events 

squadron  of  ships  under  his  command  belonging  to  ' '  His  most 
Christian  Majesty,  our  great  ally." 

After  congratulating  him  upon  the  event,  he  extended  his 
warmest  wishes  for  his  success. 

Through  spies  in  New  York  and  persons  stationed  near  the 
Hook,  Washington  received  intelligence  of  the  British  shipping, 
but  in  the  present  case  the  constant  shifting  prevented  him  from 
giving  information  with  precision. 

He  would  take  steps  to  get  an  accurate  account  of  the  state 
of  their  ships  of  war.  The  general  informed  him  of  his  arrival 
with  the  main  body  of  the  army  immediately  under  his  com 
mand  within  20  miles  of  the  North,  or  Hudson  River,  which 
he  intended  to  cross  about  50  miles  above  New  York,  with 
the  intention  of  moving  down  before  the  enemy's  lines  to 
divert  attention.  He  agreed  to  facilitate  any  enterprises  the 
Count  might  form  and  would  communicate.  He  suggested 
the  establishment  of  conventional  signals  for  correspondence 
between  them. 

He  cautioned  him  of  the  expected  arrival  of  a  provision  fleet 
from  Cork  and  of  the  Sound  route  being  capable  of  receiving 
40-gun  ships,  though  very  narrow,  7  miles  from  the  city. 

The  letter  was  conveyed  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  L,aurens,  aid- 
de-camp  to  the  General  in  Chief,  who  would  exchange  informa 
tion  concerning  measures. 

INTERCHANGE   OF    COMMUNICATIONS 

He  referred  to  the  arrival  of  Major  Chouin  at  his  quarters. 
This  officer  had  been  sent  to  Congress  as  bearer  of  dispatches 
from  Count  d'Estaing.  Having  concluded  his  business  he 
departed  immediately  for  Washington's  camp  as  bearer  of 
the  first  communication. 

This  officer  was  closely  related  by  family  ties  to  M.  de 
Sartine,  one  of  the  King's  ministers,  an  active  friend  'of  the 
"common  cause."  But  aside  from  this,  the  Count  entertained 
of  his  representative  a  high  "opinion  of  his  military  knowledge, 
the  clearness  of  his  ideas,  and  the  precision  with  which  he  will 
communicate  mine." 


Specialisation  of  Events  239 

In  all  this  Washington  fully  coincided,  and  in  return  freely 
communicated  his  ' '  ideas  of  every  matter  interesting  to  our 
mutual  operations." 

This  letter  was  conveyed  by  Lieut.  Col.  Alexander  Hamilton, 
another  aid,  to  acquaint  the  French  commander  with  his  chief 's 
sentiments  and  satisfy  any  inquiries  "he  might  propose,"  being 
authorized  "to  consider  the  information  as  coming  from 
myself." 

Colonel  Hamilton  was  accompanied  by  Lieutenant- Colonel 
Fleury,  a  gentleman  "of  your  nation,  who  has  distinguished 
himself  by  his  gallantry  in  the  present  war  with  England." 

He  also  took  with  him  four  captains  of  vessels  having  ' '  a 
knowledge  of  the  coast  and  harbors"  and  two  pilots  of  "skill, 
expertness,  and  fidelity,"  and  said  he  would  provide  others. 

To  both  the  direct  communications  of  Comte  d'Kstaing 
Washington  made  reply  from  camp  at  Haverstraw  Bay  on  July 
17,  1778,  characterizing  the  arrival  "of  a  fleet  belonging  to  His 
Most  Christian  Majesty"  as  an  event  "that  makes  me  truly 
happy,"  increased  "by  the  command  being  placed  in  a  gentle 
man  of  such  distinguished  talents,  experience,  and  reputation 
as  th£  Comte  d'Kstaing."  He  felt  sure  of  every  effort  to 
accomplish  "  the  important  purposes  of  your  (his)  destination," 
assuring  him  of  the  most  ' '  strenuous  efforts  to  cooperate ' '  in 
any  measure  which  may  be  found  practicable. 

In  return  for  his  felicitations  concerning  friendship  he  charged 
the  Count— 

I  shall  consider  myself  particularly  happy  if  I  can  but  improve  the 
esteem  you  are  pleased  to  entertain  in  my  favor  into  a  cordial  and  lasting 
amity. 

ALARM  AT  NEW  YORK 

The  appearance  of  D'Estaing  caused  great  excitement  inside 
the  "Hook."  Admiral  Howe,  in  order  to  strengthen  his  float 
ing  strength,  hastily  armed  a  number  of  transports  and  placed 
aboard  gun  crews  from  his  ships  and  artillerymen  from  shore. 
The  Royal  Gazette  (Rivington)  of  New  York,  in  its  issue  of 
July  15,  1778,  made  announcement  of  the  anchoring  of  the 


240  Specialization  of  Events 

French  fleet  under  D'Estaing  4  miles  off  Sandy  Hook  on  the 
previous  Saturday,  and  of  the  sounding  of  the  channel,  but 
making  no  attempt  to  close  up. 

A  number  of  American  pilots  provided  by  General  Washing 
ton  went  aboard  the  Languedoc,  D'Kstaing's  flagship,  but  were 
not  willing  to  make  the  attempt  to  get  the  fleet  over  the  bar, 
the  depth  being  insufficient  to  accommodate  the  larger  vessels, 
which  drew  from  23  to  25  feet. 

By  D'Kstaing's  order  a  council  of  captains  was  held,  and  in 
their  presence  a  bounty  of '150,000  francs  ($30,000)  was  offered 
the  pilots  if  they  would,  take  the  vessels  inside,  which  they 
declined  as  impracticable. 

AGAIN   UNDERWAY 

After  remaining  at  their  anchorage  off  the  New  Jersey  coast 
until  July  22,  at  the  request  of  Washington,  the  French  fleet 
sailed  for  Rhode  Island  in  order  to  cooperate  with  General  Sul 
livan.  In  doing  so,  however,  in  order  to  mislead  the  British, 
D'Estaing  took  a  southerly  course.  When  out  of  sight  he 
headed  for  Newport. 

ENGLAND   STRENGTHENS   HER    NAVAL   FORCE 

The  British  cabinet,  caught  napping,  took  no  action  to  meet 
this  sudden  emergency  until  May  6,  when  it  was  decided  to 
send  the  powerful  Portsmouth  squadron  to  America  as  an  offset 
to  the  French  operations. 

On  the  2oth  of  the  same  month  Admirals  Byron  and  Hyde 
Parker,  with  22  ships  of  the  line,  set  sail,  but,  some  doubt  hav 
ing  arisen  as  to  the  real  destination  of  D'Estaing,  were  over 
taken  and  recalled.  On  June  5  this  squadron  again  weighed 
anchor,  under  the  sole  command  of  Admiral  Byron. 

The  British  naval  strength  in  United  States  waters  at  this 
time  aggregated  71  ships  of  the  line,  frigates,  and  sloops,  carry 
ing  2, 100  guns,  distributed  through  a  fleet  of  7  of  64  guns  each, 
5  of  50,  3  of  44,  2  of  36,  15  of  32,  ii  of  28,  10  of  20  to  24, 
and  1 8  sloops  of  10  guns  each. 


Specialization  of  Events  241 

This  did  not  include  a  large  number  of  armed  ships  and  smaller 
vessels  employed  in  various  capacities.  Of  this  fleet  at  the  time 
of  D'Estaing's  arrival  Vice- Admiral  Lord  Richard  Howe,  known 
among  his  sailors  as  ' '  Black  Dick ' '  on  account  of  his  swarthy 
complexion,  and  brother  of  the  lately  deposed  commander 
in  chief  of  His  Majesty's  forces  on  land  in  America,  was  com 
mander  in  chief  afloat  until  succeeded  by  Admiral  Byron. 
There  were  also  4  vessels,  mounting  134  guns,  at  Newfound 
land,  8  at  Quebec,  and  33  in  the  West  Indies,  from  which  to 
draw. 

NAVAL  POWER  OF  THE  STATES 

The  infant  American  Navy,  the  sole  dependence  of  Congress 
on  the  water,  was  vigorous  but  not  numerous,  except  in  depre 
dations  upon  British  commerce;  then  it  was  both.  It  consisted 
of  10  vessels,  mounting  252  guns:  Alliance,  40;  The  Congress, 
32;  Queen  of  France,  28;  Deane  Warren  and  Province  each  32; 
Boston,  28;  Revenge,  20;  Hazard,  18;  Ranger,  Gates  and  Sara 
toga;  a  sloop  of  10  guns  and  another  of  8.  For  this  force  to 
oppose  the  British  meant  annihilation,  and  in  comparison  with 
the  naval  force  of  France  it  was  insignificant. 

Yet  notwithstanding  its  limited  numbers  and  resources  it 
had  achieved  a  history,  and  on  anything  like  equal  terms  it 
made  desperate  work  for  stronger  craft  floating  the  King's 
standard.  The  first  three  years  it  was  particularly  active  in 
preying  upon  British  commerce  and  transports  bringing  stores 
for  the  royal  army.  Its  most  effective  service,  however,  was  in 
procuring  arms,  ammunition,  and  military  supplies  from  ports 
in  the  West  Indies.  Its  list  of  heroes  began  with  Hsek  Hop 
kins,  first  on  the  roll  of  captains,  December,  1775,  and  John 
Paul  Jones,  on  the  same  date,  first  of  the  rank  of  lieutenants. 
Their  cruising  was  largely  off  the  New  England  coast,  where 
commerce  was  greater  and  the  many  American  privateers  served 
as  a  cooperating  force. 

With  this  knowledge  in  view  D'Estaing  sailed  away  from 
the  ' '  Hook ' '  within  a  point  or  two  northeast  by  east  toward 
the  coast  of  Rhode  Island. 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 16 


242  Specialisation  of  Events 

CONDITIONS  IN   RHODK  ISLAND   BKFORK   D'ESTAING'S  ARRIVAL 

The  exposed  situation  of  Rhode  Island  from  the  sea  made  it 
an  objective  of  forays  for  cattle  and  provisions  from  the  very 
outbreak  of  hostilities  between  the  Colonies  and  Great  Britain. 
During  the  autumn  and  winter  of  1775,  and  nearly  all  of  1776, 
in  addition  to  rendering  valuable  aid  to  Massachusetts  and  the 
cause  in  general,  with  men  and  munitions,  Rhode  Island  main 
tained  a  dauntless  land  and  water  war  on  her  own  account, 
with  all  the  British  at  New  York  had  to  send  into  her  sinuous 
tidal  ways.  In  the  early  desultory  affairs  the  Rhode  Island 
ers  generally  had  the  advantage,  and  never  permanently  the 
reverse,  although  the  inhabitants  often  suffered  severely.  In 
retaliation,  during  the  season  of  1776,  her  daring  seamen  cap- 
tur.ed  75  prizes,  some  of  considerable  value. 

BRITISH    OCCUPATION 

On  the  day  General  Washington  was  on  the  march  to  victory 
at  Trenton,  December  26,  1776,  Sir  Peter  Parker,  with  about 
8,000  British  and  Hessians  under  General  Clinton  and  Earl 
Percy,  who  had  been  so  ingloriously  trounced  at  Charleston, 
S.  C.,  landed  about  4^  miles  above  Newport.  .  The  two -Rhode 
Island  frigates  and  fleet  of  privateers  by  skillful  seamanship 
eluded  the  powerful  invading  fleet  and  escaped  to  sea.  The 
following  spring,  Clinton,  having  taken  about  one-half  this 
force  to  New  York,  left  Prescott  in  command,  who  was  cap 
tured  and  taken  to  Washington's  headquarters  at  Middlebrook. 

SUUJVAN   IN   COMMAND 

The  British  continuing  in  possession,  the  French  treaty  of 
alliance  having  been  signed,  and  a  French  fleet  about  to  sail 
for  America,  General  Sullivan  was  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  American  troops  in  that  State.  About  the  same  time, 
Prescott  having  been  exchanged,  returned  to  his  duties.  His 
devastations,  however,  were  arrested  by  ominous  tidings  of 
the  probability  of  Rhode  Island  being  the  destination  of  the 
French  fleet  to  be  sent  to  America. 


Specialization  of  Events  243 

D'KSTAING  OFF  NEWPORT 

The  French  fleet  arrived  off  Newport  on  July  29  and  anchored 
in  the  mouth  of  the  middle  channel. 

The  Fantastique  and  Sagittairea  were  stationed  to  watch  the 
western  or  Narragansett  passage.  The  frigates  Amiable, 
Alcemene,  and  corvette  Stanley  occupied  the  east  channel. 

By  this  disposition  of  a  part  of  his  fleet  the  escape  of  any 
British  vessels  inside  was  completely  cut  off. 

After  a  week  (August  5)  of  dispositions  and  getting  the  ships 
in  fighting  trim,  the  Sagittaire  and  Fantastique,  having  been 
replaced  by  the  Protecteur  and  Provence,  advanced  under  Bailie  de 
Suffren,  commandant,  oy  the  Narragansett  passage,  and  doubled 
the  north  point  of  Conanicut  Island.  A  number  of  English 
men-of-war  and  merchantmen  thus  trapped  were  fired  by  their 
commanders,  the  crews  taking  to  the  shore.  Although  within 
easy  reach,  the  French  commander  gave  orders  not  to  open  fire 
on  any  landing  parties. 

SUUJVAN   CONFERS 

General  Sullivan  at  once  went  aboard  the  Languedoc,  and 
after  a  conference  with  the  Admiral  a  general  plan  of  operations 
was  determined  upon.  As  a  cooperating  force  Congress  em 
powered  General  Washington  to  call  upon  Massachusetts,  New 
Hampshire,  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  New  York,  and  New 
Jersey  to  assist  in  an  effort  to  capture  Rhode  Island. 

NEWPORT   IN   THE   WIND 

The  carrying  forward  of  an  aggressive  campaign,  as  arranged 
by  Washington  and  acquiesced  in  by  the  French  admiral, 
contemplated  a  combined  attack  on  the  English  garrison  of 
Newport  by  the  French  fleet  from  the  sea  and  the  American 
Army  from  the  land. 

The  first  step  to  the  investment  was  a  message  from  M. 
D'Estaing  to  Sir  Robert  Pigot  with  a  ceremonial  suggestion  of 

a  The  name  Sagittaire  does  not  appear  in  the  list  from  Brest,   although  it  does  in 
subsequent  accounts  in  the  transportation  of  material  of  war  and  recruits. 


244  Specialisation  of  Events 

surrender  to  the  forces  of  the  United  States  and  himself,  the 
Admiral  representing  the  King  of  France.  Pigot  promptly 
replied  from  his  batteries,  which  resulted  in  a  mutual  cannonade, 
doing  very  little  damage. 

The  British  defenses  were  laid  in  two  lines,  supported  by 
redoubts  connected  with  the  mam  works.  The  first  of  these 
extended  from  Easton  Pond  to  near  "Tammy"  Hill,  where  it 
turned  toward  the  water  north  of  Windmill  Hill.  This  line 
was  defended  by  five  redoubts  in  front.  The  second  or  inner 
line,  upward  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile  within,  extended  from  the 
sea  to  the  north  side  of  the  island  and  terminated  at  the  north 
battery.  On  the  south,  at  the  entrance  of  Easton 's  beach,  where 
this  line  terminated,  was  a  redoubt  in  flank,  which  commanded 
the  passage,  with  another  redoubt  about  20  rods  to  the  north. 
A  number  of  small  works  were  interspersed  between  the  outer 
and  inner  lines,'  which  made  an  attack  from  the  land  side  very 
hazardous  unless  supported  by  naval  cooperation. 

RALLYING   TO   THE   COLORS 

The  spirit  with  which  the  arrival  of  the  French  fleet  was 
viewed  by  the  people  was  shown  in  the  prompt  manner  in 
which  the  States  of  Rhode  Island,  Massachusetts,  and  Connec 
ticut  responded  to  the  call  of  General  Sullivan,  under  order  of 
General  Washington  for  5,000  militia. 

The  Massachusetts  men  were  commanded  by  Governor  John 
Hancock,  famous  as  the  President  of  the  Congress  which 
adopted  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  The  people  of 
Boston,  Salem,  Newburyport,  Portsmouth,  and  other  points 
united  in  swelling  the  ranks.  A  division  of  Continental  infan 
try  under  Marquis  de  Lafayette  was  detached  from  Washing 
ton's  main  army  to  give  confidence  to  the  militia. 

This  force,  aggregating  10,000  strong,  was  formed  in  two 
divisions,  commanded  by  Generals  Greene  and  Lafayette. 


Specialisation  of  Events  245 

FRENCH   OPEN   THE    GAME 

On  August  5  the  French  admiral  began  operations  by  run 
ning  the  batteries  on  the  middle  passage  with  eight  of  his 
frigates.  With  two  of  his  ships  he  attacked  the  frigates 
Orpheus,  Lark,  Juno,  and  Cerebus,  and  a  few  other  vessels  of  the 
enemy,  which,  unable  to  get  away,  were  burned.  The  Flora  and 
Falcon  shared  the  same  fate.  This  was  a  grand  send  off  for 
the  naval  arm  of  the  alliance;  but,  notwithstanding  the  alacrity 
of  the  response  and  the  readiness  of  preparation  at  Providence, 
the  loss  of  almost  a  week  in  getting  started  let  the  opportunity 
of  success  go  by. 

AMERICAN   DESCENT   ON   RHODE   ISLAND 

On  August  10  the  land  force  crossed  from  the  mainland  to 
the  north  end  of  Rhode  Island  proper  in  86  flat-bottomed  boats, 
each  carrying  100  men. 

The  next  day  4,000  French  soldiers  and  marines  from  the 
ships  were  landed  on  Conanicut  Island  for  drill,  preparatory  to 
cooperating  with  Sullivan,  Comte  d'Estaing  to  command  in 
person. 

BRITISH    FALL    BACK 

The  British,  however,  during  the  delay  from  July  29  to 
August  9,  had  been  reenforced  until  their  numbers  reached 
6,000,  commanded  by  Sir  Robert  Pigot,  one  of  their  best  gen 
erals.  Unable  to  resist  the  torrent,  the  enemy  abandoned  their 
outer  lines  and  fell  back  to  their  heavily  intrenched  position 
about  3  miles  above  Newport. 

In  view  of  this  movement  Sullivan,  without  awaiting  the 
arrival  of  his  French  support,  promptly  pursued,  the  same 
afternoon  occupying  Quaker  Hill,  within  1 1  miles  of  Newport 
on  the  north. 

TARDY   MOVEMENTS   OF   HOWE 

A  sample  of  the  aggressive  vigor  of  Lord  Viscount  Richard 
Howe  was  not  essayed  by  that  nobiliary  commander  until  the 
early  part  of  August.  He  was  looked  for  earlier,  but  on  account 


246  Specialisation  of  Events 

of  various  reasons  was  somewhat  deliberate  in  his  movements. 
In  the  meantime  Charles  Henri  Theodat,  Comte  d'Estaing  dti 
Sallians  began  to  feel  at  home  in  the  waters  of  Narragansett  Bay. 

MORK   SHIPS   FOR   THE   ENEMY 

About  five  days  after  D'Estaing  left  Sandy  Hook  four  British 
men-of-war,  one  blown  out  of  her  course  with  Byron's  fleet, 
two  from  Halifax,  and  one  from  the  West  Indies,  arrived  singly 
at  New  York.  With  this  accession  of  strength,  on  August  6 
Howe  set  sail  for  the  relief  of  Newport,  now  in  danger  of  being 
"bottled  up"  or  taken.  His  force  consisted  of  i  seventy-four, 
7  sixty-four,  5  fifty,  and  7  smaller  frigates,  besides  transports 
with  an  abundance  of  supplies. 

SEA   BATTLE   OFF   NEWPORT 

About  noon  on  the  eventful  Sunday,  August  9,  1778,  the 
lookouts  spied  an  armada  of  25  vessels  bearing  up  from  the 
Sound  toward  the  bold  promontory  of  Point  Judith.  At  2  p.  m. 
it  hove  in  sight  of  the  light-house,  and  a  half  hour  later  the  two 
admirals  first  caught  sight  of  the  rival  standards  of  Bourbon 
and  Hanover. 

At  7  p.  m.  Howe  brought  to  and  defiantly  dropped  anchor 
about  5  miles  off  the  entrance  to  the  bay.  This  unexpected 
appearance  compelled  the  reembarkation  of  the  French  forces 
on  Conanicut  Island. 

The  weather  conditions  being  favorable,  instead  of  cooperat 
ing  with  Sullivan,  D'Estaing  accepted  the  challenge  the  next 
morning.  The  Languedoc  slipped  her  chains,  and,  two  hours 
later,  at  10  o'clock,  with  a  fine  breeze  from  the  northeast,  stood 
out  to  sea,  followed  by  the  rest  of  the  fleet. 

About  noon  D'Estaing  hove  in  view  of  his  adversary.  During 
this  outward  movement  the  French  vessels  were  subjected  to  a 
heavy  cannonade  from  the  shore  batteries,  particularly  that  on 
Brentons  Point.  The  compliment  was  vigorously  returned. 


Specialization  of  Events  247 

Howe  having  ordered  ' '  Slip  cables, ' '  put  his  fleet  under 
sail,  directing  formation  of  line  of  battle,  the  Eagle  in  the  van 
with  her  main  and  fore  topsails  set  and  two  topgallant  sails  on 
the  cap.  D'Estaing  signaled,  ' '  All  sail  aloft;  push  the  enemy. ' ' 
Having  cleared  the  breakers  the  two  fleets  began  a  series  of 
tactical  maneuvers  for  vantage  of  position. 

The  vessels  of  D'Kstaing  were  doing  good  work,  with  steady 
advantage,  when  the  wind,  constantly  increasing,  began  to 
blow  a  gale.  The  next  morning  (August  n)  it  assumed 
the  severity  of  a  tempest,  which  raged  for  forty-eight  hours 
with  unabated  violence.  To  this  day  this  battle  of  the  ele 
ments  is  known  from  tradition  as  the  "great  storm."  The 
spray  from  the  ocean,  it  is  recorded,  carried  in  by  the  terrific 
force  of  the  wind,  covered  the  windows  in  the  town  with  a 
deposit  of  salt. 

In  the  face  of  the  fury  of  the  wind  and  sea  the  squadrons 
were  separated.  When  the  storm  subsided  neither  was  in  con 
dition  for  a  trial  of  strength. 

The  Languedoc,  the  flagship  of  D'Hstaing,  was  completely 
dismasted  and  lost  her  rudder;  two  others  were  also  dismasted. 

In  this  helpless  condition  a  British  frigate  under  full  sail  bore 
down  on  the  flagship,  giving  her  a  broadside,  but  with  little 
damage.  Helpless  as  the  Languedoc  was,  she  put  up  a  good 
defense. 

It  was  only  the  timely  rejoining  of  the  squadron  (August  14) 
by  six  of  the  scattered  Frenchmen  that  saved  the  battered 
vessels  from  severe  results. 

A   DUElv   AT   SKA 

As  a  finale  to  this  week  of  wind  and  desultory  engagements, 
the  Cesar,  a  74-gunner  of  the  French,  and  the  Iris,  a  5o-gunner 
of  the  British,  on  August  16  had  a  duel  of  an  hour  and  a  half, 
with  great  damage  to  both  sides,  the  advantage  resting  with 
the  Cesar,  which,  however,  lost  the  mizzen-mast  and  bowsprit 
and  Commandant  Raymondis  had  his  right  arm  shot  away. 


248  Specialization  'of  Events 

HOWE    ON   THE    BACK   TACK 

Howe,  having  sustained  heavy  loss,  retreated  to  the  Sound, 
straining  what  canvas  was  left  to  get  to  Gardiners  Bay,  where 
he  finally  hauled  up,  with  D'Estaing  in  pursuit  within  a  mile. 

It  was  claimed  in  the  Tory  newspapers  that  Howe's  flight 
was  a  ruse  to  draw  the  French  beyond  their  chosen  radius  of 
battle.  As  it  was,  Howe  made  no  effort  to  renew  the  engage 
ment.  Nor  was  D'Estaing  in  condition  to  maintain  the  offen 
sive.  Having  withdrawn  to  the  harbor,  an  inspection  of  his 
vessels  gave  numerous  evidences  of  stress  of  weather  and  scars 
of  battle. 

About  ten  days  later  the  two  fleets,  not  yet  fully  recovered, 
while  cruising  came  in  sight  of  one  another  about  12  leagues 
south  of  the  Rhode  Island  coast.  After  considerable  maneuver 
ing,  at  times  coming  quite  close,  neither  ventured  to  engage, 
and  both  returned  to  their  anchorages,  D'Estaing  appearing  at 
Newport  on  the  2oth. 

SITUATION   ON   LAND 

The  damage  by  storm  was  quite  as  severe  to  the  forces  on 
land.  On  the  night  of  the  1 2th  every  tent  was  leveled  or  blown 
away,  soldiers  and  animals  were  injured  and  killed,  and  ammu 
nition  was  ruined. 

Undeterred  by  these  experiences,  on  the  i5th  the  army 
advanced  in  three  divisions,  forming  for  action  within  2  miles 
of  the  British.  Here  they  threw  up  batteries  and  opened  a 
bombardment. 

Until  this  time  matters  had  progressed  as  well  as  might  have 
been  expected,  considering  the  week's  delay  in  the  land  forces 
getting  in  motion,  which  was  the  real  cause  of  the  failure  that 
followed,  together  with  the  sudden  appearance  of  the  British 
fleet  and  the  inability  of  D'Estaing  to  land  his  4,000  reenforce- 
ments. 


Specialisation  of  Events  249 

A    CONSULTATION 

Upon  the  return  of  D'Estaing  with  his  wind  and  battle  bat 
tered  fleet  Generals  Greene  and  Lafayette  went  aboard  the  flag 
ship  for  consultation  and  to  arrange  plans  to  further  prosecute 
operations,  also  to  urge  him  to  move  into  Newport  Harbor. 

The  British  behind  their  intrenchments  were  in  quite  as  sorry 
plight,  being  short  of  both  provisions  and  ammunition,  which 
they  expected  to  receive  from  Howe. 

D'ESTAING  WILLING;  OFFICERS  NOT 

.In  the  consultation  D'Kstaing  was  willing  to  again  try  con 
clusions  with  the  enemy.  His  officers,  however,  not  over- 
well  disposed  toward  him,  for  no  sufficient  reason — justified  by 
lack  of  skill  and  experience,  and  prejudiced  on  account  of  his 
being  in  reality  a  land  officer — insisted  upon  his  carrying  out 
his  instructions  to  put  into  Boston  for  repairs  in  event  of 
injuries  to  his  vessels.  As  the  effects  of  the  late  gale  and 
engagements  were  too  apparent  to  admit  of  any  discussion,  he 
was  overruled  and  forced  to  refuse  the  request  of  Generals 
Greene  and  Lafayette.  As  a  result  he  sailed  for  Boston  under 
this  construction  of  the  orders  of  his  Government. 

WAR    OF    WORDS 

Before  doing  so,  however,  a  war  of  protests,  remonstrances, 
and  correspondence,  growing  in  intensity,  followed  the  return 
of  Greene  and  Lafayette  August  21,  brought  about  by  the 
Admiral's  unfavorable  reply.  The  next  day  Sullivan  and  Han 
cock  sent  in  a  communication.  This  was  followed  by  a  pro 
test,  signed  by  all  the  officers  of  the  army  except  Lafayette, 
declaring  his  departure  not  justified  by  his  instructions,  as 
derogatory  to  the  honor  of  France  and  not  in  compliance  with 
the  spirit  and  letter  of  the  ' '  alliance. ' ' 


250  Specialization  of  Events 

SAILS    FOR    BOSTON 

As  this  document  was  characterized  by  pronounced  bluntness 
of  language,  D'Kstaing  replied  in  a  similar  style. 

To  add  to  the  difficulties  of  the  situation,  Admiral  Byron, 
who  had  left  Plymouth  June  12,  with  13  ships  as  a  reenforce- 
ment,  although  driven  into  Halifax  in  a  gale,  was  now  con 
centrating  at  New  York,  which  gave  the  English  a  decided 
naval  superiority,  two  of  the  best  French  ships,  \h&  Languedoc 
and  Marseillaise,  being  decidedly  out  of  fighting  trim.  D'  Estaing 
called  a  council,  at  which  an  imme'diate  departure  for  Boston 
was  decided  upon. 

The  first  expedition  under  the  "alliance,"  therefore  termi 
nated  by  weighing  anchor  and  spreading  sails,  standing  to  the 
eastward  for  Boston  (August  22).  General  Sullivan,  not  to  be 
outdone,  in  general  orders  gave  the  Admiral  a  parting  shot 
couched  in  rather  sarcastic  terms. 

CONGRESS   ADVISED 

From  Boston  the  Count  sent  to  Congress  a  letter  of  explana 
tion  and  vindication  of  his  course,  adding  a  complaint  of  the 
allegations  and  deductions  of  General  Sullivan's  letter. 

Matters  in  the  end  were  amicably  adjusted,  as  the  unpleas 
ant  situation  unquestionably  arose  out  of  conditions  beyond 
human  control. 

LAFAYETTE   URGES   D' ESTAING  TO   RETURN 

Not  even  now  despairing  of  success,  Marquis  de  L/afayette 
made  a  special  visit  to  Boston  to  urge,  in  the  strongest  terms, 
the  return  of  his  distinguished  countrymen  to  see  the  land  part, 
of  the  campaign  through.  In  the  meantime  about  3,000  of  the 
militia,  who  hurriedly  left  their  private  affairs  to  assist  in  this 
emergency,  returned  to  their  homes.  An  assault  on  the  enemy 
was  now  worse  than  folly  and  retreat  the  part  of  prudence. 


Specialisation  of  Events  251 

RKADY   TO    MARCH   OVERLAND 

Lafayette  returned  with  a  promise  from  D'Estaing  to  march 
overland  with  his  troops  to  their  aid  (Agenois,  D'Hainault, 
Dillon,  Foix,  Gatenais,  and  Walsh  regiments,  3,600  men),  but 
as  to  his  ships  his  officers  were  still  of  the  same  mind. 

CLINTON  ON  THE  MOVE 

In  the  meantime  Clinton,  who  had  been  busy  at  New  York, 
was  on  his  way  with  strong  reenforcements.  The  only  alterna 
tive  of  Sullivan,  without  the  presence  of  D'Estaing,  was  a  hasty 
retreat.  Accordingly  a  council  of  war  was  held  (August  28), 
at  which  it  was  determined  to  take  up  a  new  position  on  the 
north  end  of  the  island  and  fortify.  The  same  night  the  move 
ment  to  the  rear  began.  Though  with  great  difficuly  and  con 
siderable  fighting,  the  entire  army  got  back  to  the  desired  point 
without  material  loss  of  men  or  equipment.  A  much  larger 
loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  inflicted  on  the  enemy. 

Notwithstanding  the  visits  and  persuasion  of  Lafayette,  the 
personal  representative  of  Washington,  Count  d'Estaing  still 
declined  to  return  to  Newport  and  again  try  conclusions  with 
Howe. 

It  was  now  determined  to  withdraw  to  the  mainland,  which 
was  accomplished  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  Lafayette  being 
the  last  to  leave  the  island. 

A   TIMELY    ESCAPE 

The  next  day  (September  i)  fully  100  British  sail,  with  4,000 
troops  aboard,  entered  the  harbor,  which  rendered  the  position 
of  the  American  troops  perilous  if  not  untenable.  It  was  well 
that  Sullivan's  entire  force  decamped  for  the  greater  security 
of  the  mainland. 

Public  sentiment  ran  high  over  the  succession  of  misadven 
tures  and  misunderstandings.  This  condition,  however,  was 
superinduced  more  by  disappointment  than  by  the  course  of 
D'Estaing. 


252  Specialization  of  Events 

As  conceded  by  the  calm  judgment  of  the  best  authorities, 
and  as  already  shown,  if  the  movement  of  the  army  had  been 
as  prompt  as  the  people  to  rally  to  the  support  of  the  French 
fleet,  a  week  at  most  would  have  seen  the  surrender  of  the 
British,  Newport  in  the  hands  of  the  Americans  and  the  French 
fleet,  with  an  excellent  base  from  which  to  be  a  constant  menace 
to  the  British  at  New  York. 

Such  a  situation  would  have  witnessed  powerful  reenforce- 
ments  hurried  over  from  France,  a  revival  of  enthusiasm  in 
Congress,  and  a  grand  rally  among  the  fighting  element  of 
the  people. 

On  the  contrary,  General  Sullivan's  ill-advised  comments  on 
the  course  of  D'Kstaing  prompted  a  riot  in  Boston,  in  which 
M.  de  Saint  Sauveur  and  Pleville  de  Peley,  officers  in  the  French 
fleet,  were  injured,  the  former  mortally. 

The  conduct  of  D'Kstaing  under  these  vexatious  circum 
stances  drew  him  very  close  to  the  affections  of  the  American 
people.  A  single  resentful  act  might  have  canceled  the  indis 
pensable  succor  of  France,  and  ended  the  fight  for  American 
independence.  Although  the  officers  of  his  fleet  absolutely 
refused  to  return  to  Newport,  D'Kstaing,  as  we  have  seen, 
offered  to  march  his  infantry  overland  and  cooperate  in  an 
attack  on  the  British  position  at  Newport. 

Both  Washington  and  Greene  repudiated  Sullivan's  conduct, 
and  Congress,  alarmed  beyond  measure,  adopted  a  resolution  of 
"appreciation  of  the  zeal  and  attachment  the  Comte  d'Kstaing 
has  shown  to  the  cause  of  the  United  States  on  several  occa 
sions,  and  especially  in  the  noble  and  generous  offer  to  march 
from  Boston  at  the  head  of  his  troops  to  cooperate  in  the  reduc 
tion  of  Rhode  Island." 

Although  Newport  was  not  taken,  the  damage  dpne  the 
Knglish  on  water  was  by  no  means  slight. 

The  forcing  of  the  Narragansett  channel  by  Bailli  de  Suffren 
resulted  in  the  complete  destruction  of  the  British  fleet  of  6 
frigates  (Grand  Duke,  40  guns,  Orpheus,  Lark,  Juno,  Flora 
each  32  guns,  and  Cerberus,  28  guns),  3  corvettes,  220  guns, 
and  the  corvette  Senegal,  and  a  bomb  ketch  taken  after  the 
"  great  storm." 


Specialization  of  Events  253 

CONGRESS   SOOTHES    DISAPPOINTMENT 

It  is  not  relevant  to  pursue  operations  on  shore.  Congress 
closed  the  incident  by  spreading  on  its  minutes,  after  much 
discussion  and  a  motion  to  reconsider,  a  resolution  (September 
3 )  of  approval  of  the  retreat. 

OFF    FOR    THE    WEST    INDIES 

On  November  4,  1778,  D'Estaing  spread  his  sails  for  the 
West  Indies,  convoying  about  20  merchantmen  and  privateers. 
Before  his  departure  he  promulgated  from  his  flagship  a  proc 
lamation  in  the  name  of  his  King,  addressed  to  all  the  ancient 
French  in  North  America. 

After  his  departure  the  "offensive  and  defensive"  operations 
of  the  ' '  alliance  * '  came  to  a  standstill.  In  the  meanwhile  he 
was  vigorously  putting  in  his  time  in  tests  of  seamanship  and 
metal  in  the  West  Indies  with  "  Foul- weather  Jack"  Byron, 
grandfather  of  the  poet.  Byron  in  his  "  Stanzas  to  Augusta" 
did  more  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  his  grandfather  than  was 
warranted  by  the  deeds  of  the  famous  "Admiral  of  the  blue" 
at  Grenada. 

In  the  winter  of  1778  (December  29)  the  British  took  pos 
session  of  Savannah. 

Although  the  direct  results  of  D'Kstaing's  expedition  were 
not  a  success,  the  effect  of  the  "•alliance"  was  the  holding  of  a 
strong  British  force  at  New  York  which  otherwise  would  have 
been  free  for  active  operations  in  the  field.  It  also  resulted 
later  in  the  evacuation  of  Newport. 

AN  "ALLIANCE"  ANNIVERSARY 

A  most  grateful  appreciation  of  the  "alliance"  was  ever 
foremost  in  the  minds  of  the  civic  and  military  authorities. 

Its  first  anniversary  was  celebrated  with  a  demonstration  at 
the  artillery  encampment  of  General  Knox,  near  Pluckemin, 
in  the  vicinity  of  Washington's  headquarters  at  Middlebrook. 

This  event,  under  the  special  patronage  of  General  Knox 
and  the  officers  of  the  Artillery  Corps,  was  signalized  by  the 


254  Specialization  of  Events 

presence  of  the  commander  in  chief  and  all  the  general  officers 
and  their  wives  present  in  camp,  notably  Mrs.  Washington, 
Mrs.  Knox,  and  Mrs.  Greene,  and  a  number  of  invited  guests 
from  the  vicinity  of  the  camp,  besides  a  great  gathering  of 
spectators  from  distant  parts. 

Owing  to  the  presence  of  Washington  in  conference  with 
Congress  at  Philadelphia,  the  event,  due  on  February  6,  the 
calendar  day  of  the  signing  of  the  convention  of  alliance,  was 
postponed  until  the  i8th. 

A  rustic  " temple,"  erected  for  the  occasion,  formed  the 
central  piece,  consisting  of  a  colonnade  100  feet  in  length, 
profusely  adorned  with  evergreens.  Also  13  arches,  each  with 
a  painted  symbol  representing  its  part  in  the  commemorative 
proceedings.  The  affair  began  at  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
by  a  salute  of  13  guns.  At  the  conclusion  the  invited  guests 
proceeded  to  the  "temple"  and  sat  down  to  a  banquet. 

In  the  evening  there  was  a  display  of  fireworks,  arranged 
by  the  Artillery.  The  "temple,"  arches,  and  paintings  were 
illuminated  by  numerous  candles.  The  paintings,  designed  to 
interpret  the  legend  of  the  arches,  were  also  illuminated. 
They  were: 

1.  LEXINGTON:  Inscribed  "The  scene  opened." 

2.  BRITISH  CLEMENCY:  The  burning  of  Charleston,  Falmouth,  Norfolk, 

and  Kingston. 

3.  THE  SEPARATION  OF  AMERICA  FROM  BRITAIN:  An  arch,  broken  in 

the  center,  inscribed,  "By  your  tyranny  to  the  people  of  America 
you  have  separated  the  wide  arch  of  an  extended  empire. ' ' 

4.  BRITAIN:  Represented  as  a  decaying  empire  by  a  scene  of  desolation 

and  ruin  in  a  country  and  city  suitably  inscribed. 

5.  AMERICA,  "THE  RISING  EMPIRE:"  Scenes  of  prosperity  and  growth, 

with  suitable  inscription. 

6.  Louis  XVI:  "The  supporter  of  the  rights  of  humanity,  the  ally  and 

friend  of  the  American  people.     The  encourager  of  Letters. ' ' 

7.  THE  FATHERS  IN  CONGRESS:  Legend,  "  Nil  desperandum  republica. " 

8.  Doctor  FRANKUN:  The  American  philosopher  and  ambassador  draw 

ing  lightning  from  the  clouds. 

9.  BATTLE  OF  SARATOGA. 

10.  SURRENDER  OF  BURGOYNE. 

11.  NAVAI,  ACTION  BETWEEN  THE  FRENCH  AND  KNGUSH. 


Specialization  of  Events  255 

12.  WARREN,  MONTGOMERY,  MERCER,  and  other  American  heroes  who 

had  fallen  in  battle,  in  Elysium  receiving  the  thanks  of  Brutus,  Cato, 
and  other  patriots:  Inscribed  "Those  who  shed  their  blood  in  such 
a  cause  shall  live  and  reign  forever." 

13.  PEACE:  In  her  right  hand  an  olive  branch;  at  her  feet  the  rewards  of 

the  harvest,  with  a  background  of  busy  cities  and  ports  filled  with 
ships. 

After  a  further  display  of  fireworks  the  affair  closed  by  a  ball, 
General  Washington  and  Mrs.  Knox  leading  in  the  dance. 

JOINT   EXPEDITION   AGAINST   HALIFAX   PROPOSED 

During  the  operations  in  the  West  Indies  in  the  spring  of 
1779  D'Estaing  proposed  to  Washington  a  joint  movement  of 
the  French  fleet  and  American  troops  against  Halifax  and  New 
foundland.  The  American  general  in  chief  could  not  safely 
reduce  his  force  for  the  purpose,  therefore  after  considerable 
correspondence  the  project  was  abandoned. 

COMBINED  ATTACK  ON  SAVANNAH 

After  having  obtained  the  advantage  of  Byron  in  an  active 
campaign  in  the  West  Indies,  Count  D'Hstaing  determined  to 
return  to  the  mainland.  On  September  3,  1779,  he  appeared 
off  Tybee  Island,  on  the  coast  of  Georgia,  with  20  ships  of  the 
line,  1 1  frigates,  and  a  strong  landing  force. 

After  destroying  a  few  vessels  and  communicating  with  Gen 
eral  Lincoln,  the  American  commander,  he  sailed  away  the  next 
day,  but  returned  on  the  6th.  Three  days  later  he  landed  a 
few  troops  on  Tybee  Island,  and  the  defenses  there  were  aban 
doned  by  the  enemy. 

By  the  i2th,  General  Lincoln  having  concentrated  his  troops, 
the  French  effected  a  debarkation  of  their  whole  force  at  Beau- 
lieu  (Buley). 

The  landing  party  included  the  entire  body  of  infantry  aboard 
the  fleet,  made  up  of  the  Dillon  Regiment  (Franco- Irish),  1,164 
officers  and  men,  Comte  de  Dillon,  commanding;  D'Hainault, 
i  battalion,  511  strong,  Laplin,  commanding;  Foix  (sharp- 


256  Specialization  of  Events 

shooters;,  357  on  the  roll,  Chastelet,  commanding;  Walsh 
(Fran co- Irish),  532  officers  and  men,  O'Brien,  commanding. 

In  addition  to  these  were  the  grenadiers  and  chasseurs  of  the 
famous  Agenois  Regiment,  200  strong,  D'Autichamp  com 
manding,  and  200  Gatenais  Grenadiers  (Royal  Auvergne),  of 
Rostaing's  regiment,  making  a  grand  total  of  about  3,000 
Frenchmen. 

On  the  i6th,  Lincoln's  main  army  being  in  position,  a  general 
advance  was  made  .to  within  3  miles  of  the  city.  D'Estaing 
now  demanded  its  surrender  to  the  King  of  France.  But'Pre- 
vost,  the  British  officer  in  charge,  not  quite  prepared  to  go  on, 
asked  until  the  next  day  for  consideration.  This  being  granted, 
the  time  afforded  an  opportunity  for  about  800  men  to  steal 
in  under  cover  of  a  fog.  About  1,000  white  and  black  laborers 
were  compelled  to  work  on  the  intrenchments,  which  now 
mounted  about  80  cannon,  from  6  to  18  pounders.  Prevost 
having  received  all  available  aid,  declined  D'Kstaing's  sum 
mons.  This  was  a  fatal  delay  for  the  combined  armies. 

On  the  23d  the  siege  began.  The  French  and  Americans 
closed  up,  and  in  twelve  days  had  54  cannon  and  15  howitzers 
in  position.  The  enemy  meanwhile  made  several  small  sorties 
which  wrere  repulsed.  In  repelling  one  of  these  on  September  7, 
the  night  of  September  27,  lieutenant  Blandet,  of  the  Agenois 
Regiment,  was  killed. 

On  October  4  the  combined  armies  opened  a  bombardment. 
The  preliminary  bombardment  was  made  more  effective  by 
bringing  a  French  ship  into  action. 

As  it  was  deemed  best  to  push  matters,  owing  to  the  possi 
bility  of  the  arrival  of  Byron  and  an  attack  from  the  sea, 
D'Estaing  urged  an  immediate  assault  or  an  abandonment  of 
the  enterprise.  Major  L,' Enfant,  afterwards  the  designer  of  the 
plan  of  the  city  of  Washington,  with  a  detachment  of  sappers 
and  miners,  opened  the  way  by  destroying  a  portion  of  the 
abatis. 


Specialization  of  Events  257 

ASSAULT    ON   THK    BRITISH    WORKS 

At  the  first  break  of  dawn,  October  9,  the  whole  force  of  the 
two  armies,  about  5,100  effectives,  of  whom  2,964  were  French 
men,  bent  their  entire  energies  to  the  storming  of  the  enemy's 
position,  D'Hstaing  leading  the  main  column  in  person,  and 
Lincoln  and  Count  Dillon  the  other  two.  The  enemy  opened  fire 
briskly  with  all  his  batteries.  The  battle  raged  furiously.  The 
French  in  the  lead,  exposed  to  a  heavy  front  and  cross  fire,  lost 
their  leader,  D'Estaing,  early  in  the  engagement,  who  was  shot 
in  the  arm  and  thigh.  Undaunted,  however,  they  pushed  ahead 
under  a  storm  of  shot  and  shell,  finally  reaching  the  ditch. 
Soon  the  "lily"  and  "crescent"  (South  Carolina)  flags  were 
seen  planted  on  the  parapet. 

A  strong  body  of  British  Grenadiers,  and  a  heavy  guti  fire 
concentrated  on  this  devoted  band,  soon  rendered  their  position 
untenable.  Being  forced  to  yield  they  retired  slowly,  carrying 
their  colors  with  them. 

During  this  engagement  Count  Casimir  Pulaski,  with  his  legion 
offt  horsemen,  was  slowly  gaining  advantage  against  another  part 
of  the  works,  when  a  cannon  ball  struck  him  in  the  thigh,  inflict 
ing  a  mortal  wound,  which  caused  his  men  to  hesitate. 

After  holding  their  own  stubbornly,  at  10  a.  m.  both  armies 
fell  back  upon  their  intrenchments. 

The  allies  asked  five  hours'  truce  in  which  to  bury  their  dead. 
The  British  commander  allowed  but  four. 

ABANDONMENT   OF   THE    ENTERPRISE 

During  this  suspension  D'Estaing,  suffering  from  his  wounds, 
held  a  conference  with  General  Lincoln  as  to  further  operations. 

Owing  to  his  inability  to  lead  his  men,  his  heavy  losses, 
and  the  dread  of  Byron's  appearance  under  such  unfavorable 
conditions,  the  French  commander  favored  raising  the  siege. 
Sullivan,  on  the  contrary,  advocated  another  attempt.  The 
counsel  of  the  Frenchmen  prevailing,  on  the  evening  of  the 
1 8th  they  withdrew  to  their  ships  and  the  Americans  marched 
toward  Charleston. 

S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 17 


258  Specialization  of  Events 

The  French  killed  and  wounded  were  637,  or  more  than  one- 
fifth  their  number;  the  American  loss  being  457,  or  about  the 
same  proportion;  the  enemy  not  to  exceed  120. 

The  strength  of  the  defenders  was  2,850  men.  They  had  the 
great  advantage  of  intrenchments  and  mounted  batteries. 

The  French  regiments  displayed  signal  bravery.  In  addi 
tion  to  the  severe  wounds  of  their  chief,  Captain  du  Barry,  Lieu 
tenant  Saint  Saveur,  and  Ensign  Mauriage,  of  the  Agenois  Regi 
ment,  were  wounded.  The  ensign,  having  his  left  leg  broken, 
was  abandoned  on  the  field  and  taken  prisoner. 

The  Gatenais  Regiment  (Royal  Auvergne)  was  specially  dis 
tinguished.  Its  company  of  chasseurs  literally  covered  itself 
with  glory.  With  the  watchword  "Auvergne  and  D'Assas" 
(name  of  their  captain)  the  men  scaled  the  enemy's  works. 
Ensign  Levert,  being  the  first  to  mount  the  rampart,  planted  the 
Lilies  of  France  upon  its  crest.  The  defenders,  astounded  at 
such  an  example  of  bravery,  fled  with  great  precipitation.  In 
the  meantime,  the  regiment  coming  up  and  the  enemy  returning 
with  increased  numbers,  the  brave  Frenchmen,  after  bearing  the 
brunt  of  overwhelming  numbers,  slowly  withdrew,  constantly 
fighting  and  losing  half  their  number.  Among  the  killed  and 
wounded  at  this  desperate  part  of  the  field  were  Vicomte  de 
Bethzy,  lieutenant-colonel;  Captains Sereuil and  Foucault,  Lieut 
enants  Jast,  Chevalier  Roch-Negly,  and  Chevalier  de  Tourville. 
Ensign  Levert  had  his  clothes  completely  riddled. 

In  the  attack  of  the  D'Hainault  Regiment,  Lieut.  Chalelard 
des  Brets  was  wounded. 

In  the  assault,  the  famous  "Sergeant"  Jasper,  of  Fort  Moul- 
trie  fame,  was  killed,  leading  his  regiment  of  South  Carolinians 
and  carrying  the  crescent  flag  presented  in  commemoration  of 
his  former  gallantry. 

This  ended  the  career  of  D'Estaing  and  the  first  French 
expedition  to  America.  Its  operations,  always  marked  by 
great  purposes  and  successful  beginnings,  ended  in  unexpected 
obstacles  and  failure.  Aside  from  the  experience,  which  was 
later  an  element  of  value,  and  the  great  damage  inflicted  on  the 


Specialization  of  Events  259 

enemy,  the  outcome  of  tl\e  expedition  was  calculated  to  dampen 
the  ardor  of  our  "great  and  good  friend"  across  the  oceari. 

The  career  of  Count  d'Estaing  after  leaving  Boston  was  partic 
ularly  honorable.  In  the  Antilles  he  took  Grenada  and  achieved 
several  naval  successes  against  the  English.  -It  was  was  some 
what  clouded,  however,  by  the  inability  to  take  Savannah. 

It  was  only  by  heroic  exertion  he  was  able  to  get  back  to 
France,  his  fleet  having  been  left  in  very  bad  condition  by  a  vio 
lent  hurricane,  during  which  it  was  dispersed. 

One  of  the  resultant  effects  of  the  presence  of  the  French 
fleet  in  American  waters  was  a  revival  of  the  naval  spirit,  which 
had  somewhat  lagged  owing  to  inadequate  means. 

GENERAL   RESULTS 

The  unexpected  presence  of  the  French  in  American  waters 
completely  reversed  the  contemplated  British  offensive  opera 
tions  in  the  States  of  the  South. 

General  Clinton  even  felt  it  the  part  of  prudence  to  evacuate 
Rhode  Island,  which  he  did  in  so  much  haste  as  to  oblige  the 
Newport  garrison  to  abandon,  in  its  withdrawal  on  October  27, 
1779,  all  of  its  heavy  guns,  besides  great  quantities  of  material 
of  war. 


ARMY  OF  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  ON  .LAND  AND 
NAVAL  EXPLOITS  OF  DE  TERNAY.  DESTOUCHES, 
DE  BARRAS,  AND  DE  GRASSE  IN  AMERICAN 
WATERS:  1780-1781 


A  source  of  much  apprehension  in  the  minds  of  Congress 
and  General  Washington  as  to  the  efficacy,  from  a  military 
standpoint,  of  a  foreign  alliance,  particularly  with  France,  was 
the  traditional  feeling,  supposedly,  of  enmity  between  the 
Americans  and  French,  growing  out  of  the  struggles  of  more 
than  a  century  between  the  two  sovereign  powers  for  supremacy 
on  the  American  continent. 

•  The  career  of  Washington  himself  had  begun  as  an  envoy  of 
the  British  governor  of  Virginia  to  the  French  posts  on  Lake 
Erie  and  at  the  confluent  waters  of  the  Allegheny  and  Monon- 
gahela  rivers,  forming  the  Ohio.  He  had  commanded  the 
advance  of  the  Braddock  expedition  of  1755,  serving  as  aid  to 
that  general  during  his  ill-fated  march  to  seize  the  French 
fort,  Duquesne,  and  succeeded  in  bringing  off  the  remnant  of 
his  decimated  army.  He  also  led  the  advance  of  the  Forbes 
expedition  of  1758,  which  finally  captured  the  prize  which  gave 
England  the  mastery,  broke  up  the  line  of  French  posts  down 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  and  completely  severed  the  French 
possessions  in  Canada  from  those  in  Louisiana. 

The  operations  of  the  French  were  not  only  regarded  as  an 
encroachment  upon  soil  under  the  sovereignty  of  Great  Britain, 
but  also  upon  part  of  the  domain  of  the  royal  colony  of  Virginia. 
Besides  this  train  of  legitimate  military  events,  the  more  subtle 
nature  of  the  French  had  completely  won  over  the  most  war 
like  savage  tribes,  and  allowed  them  to  roam  in  all  their  ferocity 
along  the  borders  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania. 

261 


262         Franch  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

In  every  instance  the  appearance  of  murderous  bands  among 
the  outlying  settlements  was  associated  with  the  actual  pres 
ence  or  influence  of  emissaries  from  the  French  in  Canada. 

The  colonial  wars — known  as  King  William's,  Queen  Anne's, 
King  George's,  and  French  and  Indian  ((Seven  Years' ) — were 
yet  in  memory  of  living  men.  With  respect  to  the  latter,  most 
of  the  middle-aged  American  officers,  including  Washington, 
had  seen  service  in  many  of  its  hardest  campaigns;  and  due  to 
the  valor  of  the  King's  subjects  in  America  was  the  reduction 
of  Canada  and  its  transfer  to  the  crown  of  the  second  George. 

There  was  but  one  man  who  trusted  unreservedly  to  the 
sound  judgment  of  the  American  people  in  this  paradoxical 
condition  of  things.  An  instinctive  sense  of  ill  feeling  was 
natural  under  the  circumstances— it  might  be  said  a  heritage 
of  the  better  part  of  a  century,  but  conditions  had  changed. 
The  heroic  achievements  of  the  Virginians  under  Washington, 
and  New  Englanders  under  Pepperell  still  earlier,  had  given  the 
colonists  honors  and  achievements  distinctively  their  own,  and 
although  their  enemy  in  every  instance  was  a  Frenchman,  they 
felt  toward  him  none  of  the  hostility  born  of  centuries  of  racial 
and  dynastic  rivalries  and  antipathies  in  Europe. 

^NO    FOUNDATION    FOR    ANTAGONISM 

In  other  words,  the  American  colonists  had  rebelled  against  the 
arrogance  and  tyranny  of  the  throne  of  England,  had  established 
a  government  of  their  own,  and  proposed  to  fight  the  fight 
to  a  finish,  availing  themselves  of  every  legitimate  advantage. 
Therefore,  this  apprehension,  as  results  demonstrated,  was 
without  foundation  either  in  fancy,  feeling,  or  fact. 

The  class  which  largely  agitated  this  sentiment  of  inherited 
international  animosity  was  the  Tory  element,  active  and  ready 
at  all  times  to  resort  to  any  or  all  means  to  thwart  the  efforts  of 
their  countrymen  and,  shame  to  say,  fellow-citizens  to  over 
throw  tyranny,  establish  liberty,  and,  logically,  independence. 

There  was  also  some  equally  ill-founded  misgiving  as  to  how 
to  reconcile  the  presence  of  the  troops  of  a  foreign  power  on 
American  soil.  The  experience  of  history  had  been  against 
such  succor  even  in  time  of  great  public  danger. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         263 

This  was,  to  a  certain  extent,  the  view  of  public  men  and 
thinkers,  somewhat  supported  b3^  the  experience  of  the  expe 
dition  of  D'Estaing. 

This  first  output  of  the  alliance  would  have  proven  a  greater 
fiasco  than  it  did  had  it  not  been  for  the  sagacity,  energy,  and 
influence  of  that  young  nobleman  of  France,  Gilbert  de  Motier, 
Marquis  de  Lafayette.  The  experience  was  invaluable  to  him 
at  the  French  court  during  the  critical  and  crucial  period  of 
1779-80,  upon  his  first  return  from  America. 

A   DESPERATE   ALTERNATIVE 

The  Congress  persisted  in  its  dissatisfaction  with  the .  intro 
duction  of  foreign  soldiers  into  the  conflict,  and  Washington 
even  accorded  the  measure  his  reluctant  consent  as  the  only 
means  of  escaping  a  complete  collapse  of  the  whole  cause.  As 
events  showed,  neither  represented  the  actual  feeling  of  the 
people  nor  the  situation  at  that  time. 

Congress  in  its  correspondence  with  Franklin  and  his  asso 
ciate  commissioners  at  Versailles,  was  constantly  urgent  for 
money,  cannon,  arms,  and  ammunition,  supplies  of  any  kind 
which  could  be  obtained  from  any  source  and  in  any  way,  to 
aid  in  the  desperate  exigencies  of  the  moment. 

The  terms  of  the  contract  with  France  was  an  ' '  alliance ' ' 
offensive  and  defensive,  and  how  either  could  have  been  com 
plied  with  without  ships  and  troops  would  be  difficult  to  say. 

Nor  in  the  negotiation  was  there  any  other  thought  than  of 
warlike  cooperation,  without  technicalities  of  any  sort,  regard 
less  as  to  French  troops  on  American  soil  or,  if  need  be,  Ameri 
can  troops  on  French  soil.  In  fact,  there  was  considerable 
pressure  in  favor  of  creating  a  diversion — not  only  by  an 
American- French  assault  on  Canada  and  the  restoration  of 
French  dominion  in  that  former  domain  of  France,  but  a  French 
expedition  with  a  large  American  contingent  against  the 
strategic  islands  of  Great  Britain  in  the  West  Indies. 

The  convention  of  alliance  between  France  and  the  United 
States  of  America  clearly  presented  the  mutual  obligations  with 
respect  to  the  prosecution  of  warlike  operations  in  America. 


264         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

NEWPORT    ABANDONED 

In  the  fall  of  1779,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  in  command  at  New 
York,  fearful  of  a  concerted  attack  upon  that  British  strong 
hold  by  Washington  from  the  land  and  D'Estaing  from  the 
sea,  proposed  an  expedition  to  the  south  as  a  counter  demon 
stration.  In  the  month  of  October  he  transferred  the  entire 
British  garrison  of 'Newport  and  its  impedimenta  to  New  York. 

LAFAYETTE'S  EFFORTS 

In  January  of  the  same  year  Marquis  de  Lafayette  returned 
to  France  on  leave  of  absence  to  rejoin  the  colors  of  the  Ameri 
can  Army  at  his  convenience. 

It  took  much  tact  and  an  immense  amount  of  persuasion  to 
induce  "our  great  and  good  friend"  to  make  another  effort. 
He  had  his  troubles  at  home,  wJiich  were  by  no  means  trifling 
and  seriously  cumulative  in  demands  upon  the  resources  of  his 
Kingdom  and  the  ready  means  of  his  exchequer. 

The  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  though  still  under  the  ban  of  the 
royal  letter  de  cachet,  had  so  advanced  in  his  career  as  the 
vSympathetic  friend  and  confidant  of  Washington,  as  a  hero  in 
the  eyes  of  the  American  people,  as  a  general  in  the  Continen 
tal  Army,  and  as  an  indefatigable  coadjutor  of  Congress,  that 
his  return  to  France  was  an  event.  The  extent  of  his  services 
in  America  was  emphasized  by  Congress,  placing  at  his  disposal 
the  best  frigate  it  possessed,  just  finished,  called  the  Alliance, 
a  30-gunner,  and  for  his  personal  fortification  invested  him 
with  resolutions  of  grateful  recognition.  He  bore  letters  of 
highest  commendation  from  the  President  of  Congress,  a  com 
mittee  of  Congress,  and  the  commander  in  chief  of  the  Conti 
nental  Armies  to  the  King  in  person. 

The  correspondence  which  accompanied  the  direct  efforts 
of  Lafayette,  aided  by  the  Queen,  Vergennes,  and  D'Estaing, 
resulted  in  the  decision  of  the  King  to  send  out  another 
expedition  along  the  lines  proposed  by  Lafayette,  approved  by 
Vergennes,  namely,  the  command  of  the  land  forces  to  be  given 
to  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  Lafayette  to  remain  at  the  head  of 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         265 

a  division  in  the  American  army  and  General  Washington  to 
have  supreme  command  of  the  French  forces  in  everything  ex 
cept  the  internal  affairs  of  camp  discipline  and  regimen.  When 
operating  jointly  the  American  troops  were  to  form  the  right 
wing  of  the  army,  the  French  being  "division  a  gauche,"  and 
American  officers  were  to  command  the  French  officers  of  equal 
rank. 

A  similar  arrangement  of  making  French  troops  auxiliaries 
was  conducted  harmoniously,  in  a  tactical  sense,  in  the  cam 
paign  of  1757  against  Frederick  the  Great  in  Germany.  Count 
DK  ROCHAMBEAU,  among  his  other  qualifications  for  command, 
had  experience  in  this  particular  style  of  cooperative  military 
operations. 

These  were  radical  propositions  and  a  complete  refutation  of 
the  arguments  and  overanxiety  as  to  the  difficulty  of  harmonious 
action  between  the  officers  and  men  of  the  two  armies  and  over- 
keen  sensitiveness  as  to  the  presence  of  an  auxiliary  force  of  an 
allied  power  on  American  soil. 

On  February,  1780,  Lafayette  submitted  to  Vergennes  a  plan 
for  an  expeditionary  corps  of  3,600  men,  to  be  commanded  by 
himself,  which,  however,  was  not  received  with  favor. 

The  fact  that  Lafayette  was  not  placed  in  command  was  due 
to  the  important  fact,  that,  though  holding  a  line  commission 
subsequently  raised  to  colonel  of  dragoons  in  the  King's  service, 
he  held  a  major-general's  rank  commanding  a  division  in  the 
American  army,  where  .in  the  very  earliest  years  of  manhood 
he  had  won  prestige  which  gave  him  the  potentiality  to  speak 
in  the  councils  of  his  Sovereign  and  to  respond  to  letters  of 
inquiry  and  documents  of  state  with  respect  to  international 
policy  and  the  details  of  execution,  as  far  as  concerned  the  affairs 
of  France  and  the  States. 

The  narrative  of  the  unceasing  exertions  of  this  extraordinary 
young  nobleman,  just  turned  22  of  years  of  age,  from  the  time 
he  landed  in  France  amid  salvos  of  artillery  till  the  day  of 
his  departure  from  Rochelle  to  return  fifteen  months  after  as 
"Ambassadeur  extraordinaire"  is  another  story.  Suffice  it  to 
say,  through  his  representations  of  conditions  and  presentation 


266         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

of  prospective  opportunities,  the  King's  command  went  forth. 
It  met  a  willing  exponent  in  Vergennes,  a  speedy  herald  in 
Lafayette,  and  a  loyal  champion  in  ROCHAMBEAU. 

The  difficulty  with  d'Estaing's  undertaking  was  divided 
counsels  and  command;  no  one  in  authority,  and  a  doubt  in  the 
minds  of  all  as  to  what  the  expedition  was  really  intended  to 
accomplish. 

It  returned  none  too  soon  to  make  way  for  the  auxiliary 
Operations  under  Count  DK  ROCHAMBEAU  and  Chevalier  de 
Ternay. 

The  condition  of  the  affairs  of  the  States  at  the  time  of  the 
return  of  Lafayette  to  headquarters,  announcing  the  speedy 
arrival  of  new  succor  from  France,  was  not  only  deplorable,  but 
to  one  of  even  Washington's  illimitable  fortitude  and  hope, 
apparently  without  a  ray  of  encouragement  beyond  the  miracle 
of  his  own  resourceful  capabilities.  Congress  had  reached  the 
utmost  limit  of  its  credit.  The  States  were  in  a  slough  of 
despair,  and  the  people  grasping  at  the  last  Straw  of  willing  but 
impossible  further  sacrifice.  It  had  come  to  the  issue,  survive 
or  perish,  without  any  apparent  inherent  reserve  vitality  to 
stay  the  inevitable  end.  Washington  summed  up  the  situation 
in  an  epigram,  saying,  "his  men  had  lived  on  all  sorts  of  horse 
food  save  hay." 

KING'S   AMBASSADOR 

The  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  bearer  of  intelligence  of  the 
King's  decision  to  continue  material  support  of  the  American 
cause,  accompanied  by  a  commissary  of  war,  sailed  in  March, 
1780,  from  the  Isle  d'Aix,  near  Rochelle,  on  the  west  coast  of 
France,  'in  the  French  -frigate  Hermione,  36  guns,  Chevalier  de 
la  Touche,  commander,  and  after  a  tempestuous  voyage  of 
thirty-eight  days  reached  Boston.  He  brought  with  him  infor 
mation  of  the  speedy  sailing  of  an  army  and  a  powerful  fleet; 
also  a  commission  from  the  King  of  France  appointing  George 
Washington  lieutenant-general  in  the  armies  of  France  and 
admiral  of  its  fleets,  thus  making  the  French  allies  auxiliaries 
and  subject  to  the  supreme  command  of  the  American  chief. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         267 

These  arrangements  were  due  entirely  to  the  persuasion  of 
Lafayette,  and  the  persistence  with  which  he  insisted  upon  them 
being  made  fundamental  in  any  renewed  efforts  of  the  King. 

GREAT   JOY   AND   ACTIVITY 

The  return  of  Lafayette  was  hailed  as  a  national  affair. 
Congress  characterized  it  as  such  by  a  resolution  of  welcome. 
The  joy  was  universal.  The  tidings  which  he  brought  raised 
the  despondent  hopes  of  Washington  to  a  pinnacle  of  elation-, 
aroused  Congress  to  renewed  efforts,  and  quickened  the  apathy 
of  the  people  into  extraordinary  activity. 

CONGRESS   AROUSED 

Three  days  after  Lafayette's  arrival  Congress  took  measures 
to  get  the  army  into  the  field  and  to  furnish  it  with  necessary 
supplies  by. authorizing  bills  of  exchange  drawn  on  Franklin 
and  Jay,  respectively,  for  $25,000.  The  States  of  Virginia, 
Maryland,  Delaware,  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  New  York, 
Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  Massachusetts,  and  New  Hampshire 
were  called  upon  to  raise  the  impossible  sum  of  $10,000,000 
in  thirty  days  to  replenish  the  Continental  treasury.  The 
Carolinas  and  Georgia  were  held  exempt  from  the  call,  being 
occupied  in'a  costly  campaign  of  their  own. 

Other  steps  were  taken  in  order  to  be  prepared  to  meet  the 
demands  of  the  situation  as  soon  as  the  French  auxiliary  army 
should  arrive. 

ROCHAMBEAU   ON    D'ESTAING 

Coirfmenting  upon  the  unfortunate  results  of"  the  D'Estaing 
expedition,  M.  le  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  says  in  his  Memoires: 

The  unexpected  result  of  this  expedition  projected  against  New  York, 
the  ill  success  of  an  attack  against  Savannah,  and  the  depreciation  of  paper 
currency  on  the  Continent  produced  a  most  serious  crisis  in  America.  She 
had  contended  by  herself  against  the  entire  forces  of  England  since  the  be 
ginning  of  her  Revolution.  The  more  she  had  struggled,  the  less  able  was 
she  now  to  hold  out.  The  Congress  in  this  critical  situation  resolved  to 
solicit  from  her  ally,  the  King  of  France,  further  assistance,  by  a  fresh 


268         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

supply  of  naval  and  land  forces  and  money,  which  the  latter  accordingly 
granted  by  immediately  sending  out  a  squadron  of  ships  to  cruise  off  the 
coast,  a  corps  of  able  troops,  and  a  considerable  supply  of  specie. 

INSTRUCTIONS   AS   TO   THE    ARRIVAL   OF   THK    CONVOY    V  % 

The  following  instructions,  under  the  hand  of  Vergennes, 
to  regulate  every  detail  on  the  arrival  of  the  French  convoy  on 
the  coast  of  America,  were  handed  to  the  Marquis  de  L/afayette, 
under  date  of  Versailles,  March  5,  1780,  just  prior  to  his  de 
parture,  which  he  was  to  convey  to  America  in  advance  and 
have  supervision  of  their  execution: 

The  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  on  arriving  in  America,  is  to  proceed  imme 
diately  to  join  General  Washington  and  communicate  to  him  the  secret 
that  the  King,  willing  to  give  the  United  States  a  new  proof  of  his  affec 
tion  and  of  his  interest  in  their  security,  is  resolved  to  send  to  their  aid  at 
the  opening  of  spring  6  vessels  of  the  line  and  6,000  regular  troops  of  in 
fantry.  The  convoy  has  orders  to  land  the  tropps  in  Rhode  Island,  where 
they  may  be  at  hand  to  join  General  Washington's  army,  if  he  shall  think 
it  necessary;  but  as  it  is  possible  the  English,  after  having  voluntarily 
evacuated  Rhode  Island,  may  return,  it  is  necessary,  to  prevent  the  French 
squadron  from  falling  into  any  surprise,  that  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette 
should  request  General  Washington  to  send  to  Rhode  Island,  and  even  to 
Block  Island,  if  the  inhabitants  can  be  confided  in,  some  of  the  French 
officers  who  are  with  him,  each  one  of  whom  must  be  the  bearer  of  a  letter 
from  him,  that  the  French  squadron  may  freely  and  safely  enter  the  port. 

These  officers  should  be  charged  to  keep  a  most  vigilant  watch,  and 
should  have  always  at  hand  several  light  boats  and  skillful  pilots  ready  to 
set  off  the  moment  the  French  convoy  shall  appear  in  sight;  but,  as  the 
weather  or  other  circumstances  may  not  permit  these  officers  to  go  imme 
diately  on  board,  if  the  entrance  of  Rhode  Island  should  be  free  and  open 
they  shall  hoist  on  Block  Island  and  on  Points  Judith  and  Sakonnet  the 
French  flag;  and,  on  the  contrary,  if  the  enemy  shall  have  retaken  posses 
sion  of  the  island, _the  American  flag  shall  be  hoisted,  which  will  be  a  sig 
nal  to  the  French  commander  to  bear  away  from  the  port.  Should  no 
French  officer  arrive  with  a  letter  from  General  Lafayette  giving  instruc 
tions  as  to  the  probability  of  a  debarkation,  and  should  no  signals  appear, 
the  French  .squadron  with  its  convoy  will  go  into  Boston  Harbor  and  wait 
advices  from  General  Washington. 

To  prevent  any  surprise  in  regard  to  the  destination  of  the  French  offi 
cers  who  are  to  be  sent  by  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  and  also  to  guard 
against  any  accident  by  which  these  officers  may  be  replaced  by  suspicious 
persons,  the  words  of  reconnaissance  shall  be  "  St.  Louis  et  Philadelphia." 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         269 

Should  the  winds  force  the  squadron  to  the  south,  it  ought  to  proceed 
to  the  Capes  of  Virginia.  Let  an  intelligent  officer  be  stationed  at  Cape 
Henry,  with  orders  to  join  the  squadron,  who  shall  be  well  instructed  in 
the  state  of  American  affairs,  and  particularly  in  regard  to  the  possibility  of 
debarking  at  Rhode  Island.  The  same  signals  in  case  of  the  affirmative  are 
to  be  exhibited  at  Cape  Henry  as  at  Rhode  Island.  The  words  of  recon 
naissance  shall  be  "Marie  et  Boston."  If  General  Washington  thinks 
the  French  troops  can  be  more  usefully  employed  at  the  South,  this  officer 
will  bring  orders  accordingly.  He  will  be  the  bearer  of  instructions  iir 
detail  respecting  the  place  for  debarking  with  safety,  where  in  any  case 
the  squadron  and  transports  would  be  protected  and  where  provisions  can 
be  obtained  in  sufficient  abundance  and  horses  for  transporting  the  bag 
gage  and  artillery. 

The  French  troops  shall  be  simply  auxiliaries,  and  with  this  title  they 
shall  act  only  under  the  orders  of  General  Washington.  The  French 
general  shall  receive  the  order  of  the  American  commander  in  chief  in  all 
things,  except  what  pertains  to  the  internal  management  of  his  own 
troops,  which  ought  to  be  regulated  according  to  the  laws  of  their  own 
country.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  naval  commander  to  second  by  every 
means  in  his  power  all  the  operations  to  which  his  aid  shall  be  called. 

As  the  operations  must  depend  on  circumstances  and  local  possibilities 
we  forbear  to  give  any  instructions  on  the  subject.  It  must  be  left  to 
General  Washington  and  his  council  of  war  to  decide  what  shall  be  the 
most  useful.  All  the  King  desires  is  to  relieve  them  from  the  oppression 
of  their  enemies  in  the  most  effectual  manner.  His  Majesty  expects 
that  by  a  reciprocation  of  the  regards  which  friends  ought  to  show  to 
each  other,  General  Washington  and  his  officers  will  afford  as  many  con 
veniences  to  the  French  officers  and  troops  as  shall  be  compatible  with 
the  good  of  the  service.  It  will  be  necessary  that  General  Washington 
should  take  means  to  render  easy  the  procuring  of  subsistence  for  the 
French  troops.  Their  wants  should  also  be  supplied  at  a  reasonable  price. 

The  above  arrangements  being  made  with  the  American  commander  in 
chief,  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette  shall  proceed  to  Congress,  having  first 
ascertained  from  General  Washington  how  far  it  will  be  expedient  to  open 
to  Congress  the  secret  of  our  measures.  Upon  arrival  in  Philadelphia,  he 
shall  first  see  M.  de  la  Luzerne,  show  him  his -instructions,  communicate 
all  that  has  passed  between  him  and  General  Washington,  and  take  no 
further  steps  except  in  concert  with  the  French  minister,  by  whose  advice 
he  must  be  influenced.  His  Majesty,  who  has  an  esteem  for  his  minister, 
desires  him  to  have  a  part  in  all  arrangements  respecting  America.  In 
case  the  operations  by  land  should  not  require  the  concert  of  the  squadron, 
it  will  be  free  to  cruise  at  such  a  distance  from  the  coasts  as  the  com 
mandant  shall  think  best  for  doing  most  harm  to  the  enemy;  but  special 
orders  will  be  given  that  it  shall  not  go  far,  and  that  it  shall  take  no  part 
except  with  the  advice  of  the  commander  on  land. 


270         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

PRECAUTIONARY    MEASURES 

A  copy  of  these  instructions  were  dispatched  through  other 
channels  of  transmission  to  the  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne,  with 
directions  should  the  Hermione  be  captured  by  the  British  or 
meet  disaster  from  any  other  cause  the  minister  should  proceed 
to  the  headquarters  of  General  Washington  and  follow  the  same 
course. 

In  this  instance  the  additional  restriction  was  made  that  the 
substance  of  the  instructions  was  to  be  communicated  only  to 
the  President  of  Congress,  and  not  even  to  him  should  there  be 
any  danger  of  premature  exposure.  The  important  point  of  all 
this  secrecy  was  to  not  have  the  destination  of  the  squadron 
known  in  advance  of  its  arrival. 

On  May  2,  at  Watertown,  Lafayette  wrote  to  Count  de 
Vergennes: 

I  have  been  most  highly  gratified  with  public  sentiment  in  regard  to 
all  the  circumstances  of  the  French  alliance. 

On  the  morning  of  May  10  he  reached  the  headquarters  of 
the  American  army,  where,  having  rejoined  the  colors,  he  spent 
four  days  in  conference  with  the  commander  in  chief  concerning 
the  arrival  of  the  naval  and  land  forces  of  France. 

Thence  he  continued  to  Philadelphia,  in  further  pursuance  of 
his  royal  instructions  to  communicate  the  purpose  of  the  King 
to  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne,  the  French  minister. 

From  Philadelphia,  with  a  letter  of  date  May  19,  to  Count 
DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  the  Marquis,  under  his  instructions  from 
Count  de  Vergennes,  dispatched  M.  de  Galvan,  a  French  officer 
in  the  American  service,  south,  to  await  the  arrival  of  the 
French  expedition  at  Cape  Henry,  Virginia,  at  the  entrance  to 
Chesapeake  Bay. 

Although  this  letter  did  not  reach  the  Count  until  after  his 
arrival  at  Newport,  it  is  interesting,  as  showing  the  military 
situation  of  the  enemy  at  the  time. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         271 

BRITISH    STRENGTH 

In  this  communication  Lafayette  stated  as  to  the  strength 
and  disposition  of  the  enemy  at  the  siege  of  Charleston — 7,000 
men  and  a  few  ships.  At  New  York,  Long  Island,  and  Staten 
Island  about  8,000  regulars,  "a  few  militia,  upon  which  they 
place  no  dependence,  and  a  small  number  of  royalists,  very  con 
temptible  in  all  respects. ' '  Also  one  ship  of  74  guns  and  some 
frigates. 

DISPOSITION   OF  THE   AMERICAN   TROOPS. 

The  American  army  was  in  three  divisions — one  at  West  Point, 
maintaining  communications  on  the  Hudson  River;  one  in 
South  Carolina,  and  one,  the  largest  division,  in  New  Jersey 
under  the  immediate  command  of  General  Washington. 
Lafayette  also  mentioned  the  coming  of  the  expedition  as 
being  known  at  New  York;  the  recall  of  the  troops  or  ships 
from  Charleston;  the  erection  of  fortifications  on  "New  York 
Island,"  and  vessels  laden  with  stones 'ready  to  obstruct  the 
entrance  to  the  harbor. 

In  conveying  to  the  Count  the  sentiments  of  Washington  and 
his  troops,  he  added: 

At  the  same  time  that  I  here  execute  the  orders  of  my  general  and 
communicate  to  you  the  sentiments  of  my  friend,  permit  me  to  assure  you 
of  the  strong  desire  of  our  army  to  do  whatever  may  please  you,  and  how 
much  we  shall  all  endeavor  to  merit  the  friendship  and  the  esteem  of 
troops  whose  assistance  at  the  present  moment  is  so  essential  to  us.  You 
will  find  among  us  a  great  deal  of  good  will,  a  great  deal  of  sincerity, 
and  above  all  a  great  desire  to  be  agreeable  to  you. 

In  order  to  insure  the  delivery  of  this  letter  to  the  French 
commandant-general,  duplicates  were  sent  to  Chevalier  de 
Ternay  and  by  messenger  to  Points  Judith  and  Sakonnet,  that 
should  the  expedition  make  land  in  Rhode  Island  it  might 
at  once  sail  for  Sandy  Hook. 

The  Marquis  kept  up  the  correspondence  until  the  arrival  of 
the  squadron  at  Newport.  Of  this  series  of  letters  copies  were 
transmitted  by  courier  to  the  officers  stationed  to  watch  for  the 


272         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

squadron,  both  at  the  capes  of  the  Chesapeake  and  to  Rhode 
Island,  that  the  information  they  contained  might  be  received 
promptly. 

In  all  these  matters  Lafayette  continued  to  carry  out  the 
instructions  of  his  Sovereign  until  the  general  commandant  of 
the  French  troops  came  in  touch  with  the  commander  in  chief 
of  the  American  forces. 

VERGENNE'S  INTEREST 

As  an  indication  of  the -interest  of  the  King's  chief  of  council 
in  all  these  proceedings,  on  June  3  Count  Vergennes  wrote  to 
Lafayette  from  Versailles  of  the, departure  of  the  squadron  from 
France  on  May  2,  and  of  his  confidence  in  its  safe  arrival  on  the 
shores  of  America.  The  British  admiral,  Graves,  designated  to 
watch  and  follow  the  French  squadron,  had  not  left  Plymouth, 
England,  on  the  2oth,  so  De  Ternay  had  a  long  start. 

It  is  an  essential  part  of  the  narrative  to  give  under  the  hand 
of  the  Count  de  Vergennes  himself  (June  3),  the  salient  points 
of  the '  inside  situation  as  to  the  fleet  and  of  the  conditions  at 
large  and  in  Europe.  The  Count  says: 

This  convoy  takes  out  5,500  men.  The  want  of  transports  has  not  per 
mitted  a  larger  number  to  embark,  and  the  rest  can  not  be  sent  immediately. 
The  English  are  putting  to  sea,  and  their  squadron  will  the  more  easily 
blockade  the  harbor  of  Brest  as  our  forces  there  are  small,  the  larger  part 
of  our  vessels  being  at  Cadiz.  It  is  therefore  probable  that  the  two  regi 
ments  will  not  be  sent  till  autumn,  and,  perhaps  only  one  then.  We 
shall  know  by  that  time  how  the  first  division  has  been  received  and 
whether  any  more  are  wanted.  You  will  remember  that  I  at  first  requested 
only  4,000  men,  because  I  feared  that  a  larger  number  might  excite  dis 
trust  and  alarm  in  the  United  States.  The  advices  of  yourself,  M.  de  la 
Luzerne,  and  the  French  officers  will  enlighten  us  as  to  the  future  meas 
ures  proper  to  be  taken. 

What  I  regret  most  is  that  the  clothing,  arms,  and  munitions  of  war  for 
the  American  troops  have  not  yet  gone.  They  are  all  to  go  in  the  Alli 
ance  and  under  her  convoy.  It  is  more  than  a  month  since  ,the  whole 
ought  to  have  gone  to  sea,  as  there  have  been  no  obstacles  from  blockade. 
I  very  much  fear  that  these  valuable  cargoes  will  now  be  in  danger  from 
the  enemy's  vessels.  I  will  not  decide  who  is  to  be  blamed  for  the  delay, 
but  I  am  afraid  that  the  American  agents  are  not  free  from  reproach  for 
negligence.  On  our  part  everything  was  ready  at  the  appointed  time.  I 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         273 

regret  that  I  did  not  adhere  more  firmly  to  the  plan  proposed  of  putting 
the  arms  and  munitions  under  the  convoy  of  M.  de  Ternay.  We  have  no 
concern  with  the  clothing. 

There  is  nothing  new  in  Europe.  From  present  prospects  the  campaign 
will  be  only  watched  in  this  quarter,  and  if  hard  blows  are  struck  they 
will  fall  in  America.  L,et  the  portion  of  it  where  you  are  placed  be  a 
brilliant  theater  of  action.  By  very  great  efforts  alone  can  the  United 
States  hope  to  obtain  a  settled  peace  which  shall  have  for  its  basis  their 
absolute  independence. 

SUGGESTIONS    FOR    WASHINGTON 

With  that  delicacy  of  feeling,  due  to  the  propriety  of  rank 
and  occasion,  the  King  himself  made  no  recommendation  as  to 
the  use  of  his  army  in  America,  yet  L,afayette  was  the  bearer 
of  certain  considerations,  reduced  to  writing  by  Count  de  Ver- 
gennes,  to  be  brought  to  the  attention  of  General  Washington 
as  commander  in  chief.  With  respect  to  the  second  proposition 
Vergennes  submitted  a  plan  in  much  detail  respecting  the  sug 
gested  combined  attack  of  the  French  and  American  forces  on 
New  York,  adding  as  a  saving  clause,  "everything  must  be  left 
to  the  sagacity  and  intelligence  of  the  American  officers,  better 
acquainted  with  the  localities  and  circumstances. ' ' 

That  this  was  the  subject  of  constant  thought  and  vigilance 
on  the  part  of  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU,  should  the  con 
ditions  prove  favorable,  will  be  shown  as  the  account  of  the 
military  operations  of  the  allied  armies  proceeds.  In  the  lan 
guage  of  the  Count  himself: 

Although  no  instructions  have  been  given  to  the  Marquis  de  L,afayette, 
respecting  the  future  operations  of  the  French  army,  yet  the  Count  de 
Vergennes  recommends  the  following  to  the  consideration  of  .General 
Washington. 

It  seems  proper  that  the  offensive  operations  of  the  United  States  should 
be  directed  with  a  view  to  the  accomplishment  of  two  political  objects. 
The  one  to  drive  the  enemy  as  far  as  possible  from  their  frontiers,  that 
they  may  no  longer  be  surrounded  as  they  now  are,  while  Florida,  the 
Mississippi  region,  Canada,  and  Nova  Scotia  are  occupied  by  British 
forces.  The  other  to  induce  Spain  to  take  an  interest  in  their  cause  and 
to  form  an  alliance  with  them,  which  can  only  be  done  by  furthering 
the  views  of  that  country  in  the  following  respects:  Spain  has  probably 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 18 


274         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

an  eye  upon  the  Floridas,  which  formerly  belonged  to  her,  and  it  would 
be  very  much  more  for  the  interest  of  America  that  those  provinces 
should  return  under  the  dominion  of  their  old  masters  rather  than  remain 
in  the  hands  of  the  English.  In  that  case,  the  United  States,  on  one  side 
at  least,  would  be  freed  from  the  neighborhood  of  the  English,  and  could 
easily,  in  case  of  need,  receive  assistance  which  it  would  be  impossible  to 
give  them  more  directly.  Be  this  as  it  may,  it  is  for  the  interest  of  Spain, 
whatever  views  she  may  have  upon  Florida,  that  the  English  may  not 
feel  sufficiently  strong  in  the  south  to  make  any  attempt  upon  their 
possessions. 

Among  the  different  modes  which  present  themselves  for  effecting  these 
two  salutary  objects  there  occur  two  which  shall  be  summarily  stated: 

First.  All  or  a  part  of  the  auxiliary  troops,  may  be  sent  to  Georgia  or 
Carolina.  Many  difficulties  present  themselves  in  the  way  of  this  project 
which  can  only  be  solved  on  the  spot,  such  as  the  force  of  the  English  in 
those  parts,  which  ought  to  be  considerable,  if  all  the  troops  debarked  at 
New  York  at  the  end  of  last  year  have  been  transported  thither;  the  want 
of  a  port  sufficient  to  receive  the  French  squadron  and  transports  and 
shelter  them  from  tempests  and  the  enemy;  the  difficulty  of  entrepots,  com 
munications,  and  subsistence  for  the  army,  which  will  be  necessarily  in 
want  of  every  convenience  for  penetrating  into  the  country,  and  many 
other  obstacles  which  can  not  be  detailed  nor  foreseen  except  in  the 
places  themselves. 

Second.  A  method  which  might  not  be  less  decisive  would  be  to  cause 
a  diversion  of  the  British  troops  at  the  south  by  an  attack  on  New  York,  by 
compelling  the  enemy  to  recall  many  of  their  troops,  and  to  assume  the 
state  of  defensive  instead  of  the  offensive. 

The  well-known  humanity  of  General  Washington,  and  the  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held  in  Europe  as  well  as  in  America,  render  us  confident 
that  there  is  no  need  of  especially  recommending  to  his  care  the  preserva 
tion  of  a  body  of  brave  men,  sent  more  than  a  thousand  leagues  to  the 
assistance  of  his  country.  While  ready  to  risk  everything  for  the  safety 
of  America,  they  ought  not  to  be  sacrificed  rashly  or  on  slight  occasions. 

ORDERS  FOR  DEPARTURE  OF  ROCHAMBEAU 

The  Prince  de  Montbarey,  under  orders  of  March  20,  1780, 
received  at  Versailles  specific  directions  respecting  the  depar 
ture  of  the  fleet.  This  paper  shows  the  care  with  which  every 
move  was  made  regarding  this  second  effort  of  the  King  to  aid 
his  American  allies: 

It  is  the  King's  intention  that  the  troops  under  the  command  of  the 
Count  DR  ROCHAMBEAU,  with  the  equipment  of  field  and  siege  artillery 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         275 

and  all  the  necessary  supplies  for  the  wants  of  the  French  troops  about  to 
be  sent  over  to  America,  should  all  be  in  readiness  to  embark  the  instant 
that  the  squadron  which  is  to  escort  the  troops  and  the  transports  in  which 
they  are  to  be  conveyed  can  be  made  ready  for  the  voyage. 

But  in  case  the  navy  department  should  be  unable  to  collect  imme 
diately  and  for  the  intended  time  of  sailing,  the  requisite  number  of  trans 
ports,  or  if  the  wind  or  other  circumstances  should  render  it  advisable  to 
dispatch  a  part  of  the  squadron  and  of  the  transports  which  may  be  ready, 
for  fear  of  delaying  the  operation  too  long  by  waiting  till  all  the  ships  are 
collected,  His  Majesty  authorizes  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  to  make  a 
division  of  the  troops  and  supplies  intended  for  this  expedition  in  order  to 
facilitate  the  departure  of  the  first  part,  of  which  he  will  himself  take 
command,  and  which  will  be  composed,  according  to  his  selection,  of 
whatever  he  thinks  necessary,  as  far  as  he  can  find  room  on  board  his 
transports.  His  Majesty  expects  that  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  will  leave 
the  command  of  the  second  division  with  the  Baron  de  Viomenil,  with 
orders  to  rejoin  the  first  as  soon  as  possible.  His  Majesty,  moreover,  con 
fides  to  the  wisdom,  the  prudence,  and  the  intelligence  of  Count  DE 
ROCHAMBEAU  and  the  Baron  de  Viomenil  the  execution  of  the  details- of 
this  operation,  whether  to  be  performed  at  once  or  by  two  divisions. 

EN    ROUTE   TO   THE    RENDEZVOUS 

The  French  regiments  began  marching  from  their  stations  for 
the  rendezvous  at  Brest  on  February  15.  The  colonels  were 
ordered  to  set  out  by  the  25th  of  the  same  month,  so  as  to  be 
present  at  the  embarkation  of  their  commands. 

URGENCY    OF    DEPARTURE 

Under  positive  orders  of  the  council  the  troops  destined  for 
the  United  States  were  separated  into  two  divisions,  the  first  to 
set  sail  by  the  earliest  fair  wind,  with  as  many  as  could  be 
accommodated. 

The  dispatch  of  the  remainder  was  promised  at  the  earliest 
date  possible. 

The  arms,  ammunition,  and  other  material  of  war  to  go 
aboard  with  the  troops  were  to  be  concentrated  at  Brest  by 
the  beginning  of  April. 

The  naval  preparations  were  delayed,  owing  to  the  transports 
of  the  Brest  station  having  been  employed  in  carrying  drafts 
and  stores  to  the  colonies. 


276         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

The  marine  department  had  delayed  orders  to  the  vessels  at 
Bordeaux,  and  these  were  further  delayed  by  contrary  winds  in 
reaching  ports. 

As  a  result  of  these  difficulties,  the  general  commandant  upon 
his  arrival  at  Brest  found  vessels  sufficient  to  convey  but  one- 
half  the  force  placed  at  his  disposal. 

M.  de  Choiseul,  commenting  upon  the  situation  said,  "M.  de 
Sartine's  watch  is  always  slow." 

It  was  due  to  the  activity  of  M.  Hector,  naval  commandant, 
that  transports  were  brought  together  sufficient  to  accommodate 
5,000  troops. 

It  was  known  in  France  that  a  fleet  was  being  fitted  out  in 
England  to  follow,  hence  the  fatal  danger  of  delay,  and  the 
situation  in  "The  States,"  above  all,  demanded  expedition. 

EMBARKATION 

The  embarkation  at  last  began  on  April  5  and  was  com 
pleted  by  the  nth.  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  and  the  general 
officers  and  their  aids  followed  on  the  i4th. 

The  next  day,  with  a  fair,  though  fitful  wind,  Admiral  de 
Ternay  ordered  the  sailing  of  the  convoy,  to  be  followed  the 
day -after  by  the  vessels  of  war. 

FLEET  OF  DE  TERNAY  *- 

The  fleet  of  De  Ternay,  as  it  sailed  out  of  Brest  escorting  the 
convoy  of  36  transports  having  on  board  the  first  division  of  the 
auxiliary  army  of  France  bound  for  the  United  States  of 
America,  consisted  of  the  following  ships,  with  guns,  officers, 
crews,  and  captains: 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         277 


Vessels 

Guns 

Men 

Commander 

SHIPS   OF   THE   LINE 

Le  Duc-de-Bourgogne  

80 

I,  200 
7OO 

Admiral  Arsac  de  Ternay 
Captain  Destoucheg 

Le  Conqu£rant                    

74 

700 

M.dela  Grandiee 

I/IJveill£                                                   

64 

600 

M.  de  Tilly               4 

L,a  Provence             

64 

600 

M.  Lombard 

L'Ardent                                    

64 

600 

M.  de  Marigny 

64 

6OO 

M.  de  la  Clocheteri 

FRIGATES 

La  Surveillante                              

4° 

3OO 

, 
M.  deCaillet  (Sillart) 

La  Bellone  ft                                                 •   • 

Iy'  Andromaque        

36 

250 

M.  de  Bonneval 

^6 

250 

La  P6rouse 

La  Sibella  

5 

250 

Baron  de  Clugney 

La  Hermione  

36 

250 

De  la  Touche 

CUTTERS 

La  Gu£pe 

668 
14 

6,300 
IOO 

l,e  Serpent  b 

Pelican  (  American  )  

20 

1  20 

48 

320 

HOSPITAL   SHIP 

La  Fantasque  (en  flute)  c  

2O 

IOO 

ARMED    SHIPS 

L,e  Bruen                  

Des  Arros 

De  Noulds 

«  Left  fleet  in  mid-ocean. 

b  Sent  back  with  dispatches  for  the  King. 

<•  Also  carried  the  heavy  artillery,  treasure,  and  passengers. 

Total,  7  line,  5  frigates,  2  cutters,  2  armed  ships,  i  hospital 
ship — 17  vessels;  736  guns,  6,720  officers  and  men,  exclusive  of 
armed  ships. 

AUXILIARY    ARMY 

The  land  troops — consisting  of  the  following  regiments:  Bour- 
bonnais,  Soissonnais,  Royal  Deux-Ponts,  Saintonge,  lyegion 
Lauzun  (600  for  a  troop  of  horse),  battalion  of  artillery  (500 
men),  corps  of  sappers  and  miners,  Royal  Guides,  making  a 
total- of  5,028  officers  and  men — were  embarked  on  a  convoy  of 
36  transports. 

Had  the  entire  force  assembled  for  the  purpose  of  embarka 
tion  been  accommodated,  it  would  have  footed  up  7, 683  officers 
and  men.  The  number  left  behind  for  want  of  transportation 


278         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

was  2,645  officers  and  men.  This  embraced  an  entire  brigade 
of  infantry,  including  the  regiments  Neustrie  and  Anhalt,  a 
battalion  of  artillery,  and  an  equal  force,  between  200  and  300 
men,  of  the  Lauzun  legion.  The  same  baffling  winds  which 
had  embarrassed  the  departure  of  the  convoy  in  the  beginning 
was  the  cause  of  the  delay  in  the  arrival  of  the  Bordeaux  trans 
ports  ordered  to  Brest  to  take  on  this  division. 

The  French  army  originally  intended  for  America  under 
Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  commander  in  chief,  and  Baron  de 
Viomenil,  second  in  command,  was  divided  into  two  divisions, 
the  first  of  which,  having  sailed,  was  organized  in  three  brigades 
under  Chevalier  de  Chastellem,  Comte  de  Viomenil,  and  Baron 
de  Choisy.  M.  de  Beville  was  commissary  of  war,  and  M. 
Blanchard,  commissary  of  subsistence. 

CASH    FOR    CONGRESS 

The  fleet  also  took  out  3,000,000  livres  (about  $600,000),  in 
addition  to  the  former  large  contributions  from  the  King.  It 
may  be  added  this  loan  was  doubled  soon  after  by  an  additional 
advance  of  3,000,000  livres. 

TRANSPORTATION    LACKING 

In  taking  advantage  of  the  discretion  allowed  him,  Baron  de 
Viomenil,  by  orders  of  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  was  retained 
with  the  first  division,  and  Count  de  Wittgenstein  assigned  to 
the  command  of  the  second. 

The  strongest  representations  were  again  made  by  the  Count 
DE  ROCHAMBEAU  and  Chevalier  de  Ternay  to  the  King's  min 
isters  against  the  proposed  division  of  the  expedition.  Owing, 
however,  to  the  continued  difficulty  of  getting  together  a  suffi 
cient  number  of  transports  to  convey  the  whole  force,  the  King's 
council  felt  it  imperative  to  direct  the  troops  to  be  divided  into 
two  divisions — the  first  to  depart  without  a  moment's  delay. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         279 

PERSONNEL  OF   THE   FLEETS 

The  distribution  of  duties  and  classification  of  rank  of  the 
personnel  of  these  ancient  crafts  is  a  curiosity,  in  comparison 
with  modern  ideas. 

The  flagship  (Le  Duc-de-Bourgogne)  of 'Admiral,  de  Ternay 
had  on  board  1,200  men,  all  told,  distributed  among  the  follow 
ing  classes  of  officers  and  seamen: 

Chief  of  squadron  (chef  d'escadre);  flag  captain  (capitaine  de 
pavilion);  captain  commandant  (capitaine  de  vaisseau);  capi- 
taines  en  second  (post  captain);  lieutenants  of  vessels  (lieute 
nants  de  vaisseaux) ;  captain  of  the  fireship  (capitaine  de  brulot) ; 
enseignes  of  vessels;  lieutenants  of  frigate  (lieutenants  de 
fregate);  surgeons-major  (chirurgiens-majors);  surgeons  (chi- 
rurgiens);  chaplain  (aumonier);  marine  guard  (gardes  de  la 
marine);  volunteers  of  honor  (volontaires  d'honneur);  officers- 
mariners  of  maneuver  (officiers-mariniers  de  manoeuvre),  first 
and  second  mates,  boatswain's  mate  (contremaitre),  quarter 
master  (bosseman);  pilots,,  first  and  second  (pilotage),  aid 
pilot;  canonniers,  master,  second,  aid;  carpenters,  master, 
second,  aid;  calkers  (calfatage);  sailmakers  (voiliers);  top- 
men  (gabiers);  helmsmen  (timoniers);  seamen  (matelots); 
apprentices  (novices);  supernumeraries  (surnumeraires);  coast 
guard  (garde-cotes);  cabin  or  ship  boys  (mousses);  servants 
(domestiques). 

PRESTIGE    OF   WAR 

The  zeal  of  Louis  XVI,  King  of  France  and  Navarre,  the 
' '  great  and  good  friend ' '  of  the  States,  in  his  efforts  to  bring 
effective  assistance  to  their  support,  was  amply  vindicated  in  the 
high  character  of  the  chief  and  splendid  morale  of  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  army  sent  to  America  as  "division  a  gauche" 
under  the  supreme  orders  of  Gen.  George  Washington,  com 
mander  in  chief  of  the  American  forces,  lieutenant-general  of 
France,  and  chief  in  command  of  the  allied  armies. 

The  willingness  and  fidelity  of  these  services,  from  ROCHAM- 
BEAU  and  De  Ternay,  down  to  the  humblest  man  in  the  ranks, 
must  ever  be  held  in  sacred  remembrance  bj*  the  American 
people. 


280         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

HIGH    CHARACTER    OF    THE    REGIMENTS 

During  the  long  period  of  its  continued  service  as  a  unit  of 
field  organization  in  the  armies  of  France,  Regiment  Bourbon- 
nais,  the  senior,  held  a  high  place  on  the  roll  of  honor. 

It  is  interesting  to  know  the  regiment  received  its  distinctive 
appellation  but  a  year  after  the  edict  of  Nantes  granting  civil 
and  religious  toleration  to  the  Protestant  subjects  of  Henry  IV. 
Naturally  it  figured  on  the  side  of  Louis  XIV  during  the  civil 
war  which  sprung  up  as  a  result  of  his  revocation  of  that  cele 
brated  instrument.  It  served  in  the  wars  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  notably  under  the  great  Duke  D'Enghein  against  the 
Spaniards,  and  of  the  eighteenth  century  at  Blenheim,  Malpla- 
quet,  and  on  other  famous  fields,  against  the  celebrated  Marl- 
borough,  Prince  Eugene,  and  the  great  warriors  of  the  day. 

It  was  distinguished  specially  during  the  Seven  Years'  War 
against  Frederick  the  Great  and  England,  in  Europe,  at  the 
very  time  Washington  himself  was  serving  as  a  colonial  leader 
in  the  wars  of  England  against  the  French  in  America. 

The  regiments  of  ROCHAMBEAU,  and  the  Count  himself,  and 
many  of  the  officers  of  his  army  in  America  fighting  for  inde 
pendence,  participated  on  the  other  side,  fighting  England,  as 
well  as  her  only  ally,  Prussia. 

It  was  a  special  favor  of  the  King  to  send  a  regiment  of  such 
renown  to  lead  the  others,  each  of  which  had  won  a  name  for 
itself  in  the  more  recent  wars  of  the  Old  World. 

BAFFLING   WINDS 

The  wind  failing,  the  convoy  anchored  in  the  roads  of  Bear- 
theaume.  On  April  16  the  war  fleet  made  another  attempt, 
but  a  shifting  breeze  compelled  it  to  remain  windbound  in  the 
sheltered  waters  of  Brest.  A  gale  also  sent  the  convoy  back  to 
the  roads.  From  the  iyth  adverse  winds  continued  to  prevail. 
The  fleet  and  convoy  did  not  clear  the  coast  and  make  a  good 
offing  until  May  2,  at  5  a.  m.,  taking  a  southwesterly  course 
across  the  tempest-riven  Bay  of  Biscay. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         281 

There  was  great  apprehension  of  a  blockade  of  the  port  by 
the  superior  force  of  the  British  fleet  at  Plymouth  on  the  Eng 
lish  coast,  less  than  200  miles  across  the  channel.  For  some 
reason  this  fear  proved  groundless.  De  Ternay  therefore,  when 
fairly  out  of  the  harbor,  crowded  on  all  sail  and  soon  found  him 
self  clear  of  danger  astern  and  none  to  look  for  ahead  until  he 
approached  the  American  coast. 

The  officers  and  men  left  in  excellent  spirits,  wrote  Ver- 
gennes  to  Lafayette  a  month  later.  He  had  only  to  regret 
the  inability  of  the  entire  number  to  sail,  which  he  expected 
would  follow  during  the  summer  or  autumn. 

In  the  prevailing  heavy  weather,  particularly  in  thef  Gulf 
of  Gascony,  on  the  French  coast,  in  the  southeast  angle  of  the 
Bay  of  Biscay,  the  topmasts  of  the  Provence  went  overboard. 
Her  captain,  unable  to  keep  up,  signaled  for  permission  to 
return.  De  Ternay,  however,  responded  by  sending  carpenters 
from  the  flagship  to  repair  the  damage. 

On  May  5  the  Bellone  separated  from  her  companions  to 
return  to  France.  In  order  to  mislead  her  officers,  the  Admiral 
signaled  to  put  the  crews  on  an  allowance  of  water  to  create 
the  impression  of  a  long  voyage  and  to  add  to  the  mystification 
of  the  opposition  influences  at  court. 

The  winds  continued  adverse  and  fickle.  During  the  first 
three  days  out  the  convoy  made  but  150  of  the  3,500  miles  of 
the  voyage,  the  sailing  route  of  that  day. 

It  was  a  full  month  after  the  first  order  to  sail  before  Cape 
Finisterre,  the  south  headland  of  Biscay,  about  480  nautical 
miles  southwest  from  Brest,  lay  on  the  port  beam. 

The  cutter  Serpent,  which  had  accompanied  the  fleet  for  that 
purpose,  was  sent  back  with  dispatches  for  the  King  from  De 
Ternay,  reporting  that  the  Cape  had  been  passed,  the  voyage 
was  underway  with  fair  winds,  and  the  officers  and  crews  well. 

On  June  3,  while  the  fleet  lay  drifting  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  islands  to  the  southward  in  the  line  of  the  trade  belt, 
the  regimental  commanders,  Laval  of  Bourbonnais,  Custine  of 
Saintonge,  d'Ollieres  of  Soissonnais,  Deuxponts  (Guillaum) 


282          French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

of  Deuxponts,  de  la  Tour  of  the  sappers  and.  miners  of 
Auxonne,"  De  Gimel  of  the  Artillery  of  Metz,  Savournin  of 
the  Grenoble  company,  and  the  gallant  De  Lauzun  of  the  lan 
cers  and  hussars,  seized  the  opportunity  of  going  aboard  the 
flagship  for  conference  with  their  general.  They  were  now 
informed  the  fleet  was  heading  for  the  coast  of  North  America. 

ORDERS   FOR   AMERICA 

On  the  8th  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  in  accordance  with  his  instruc 
tions  from  his  King,  sent  his  orders  to  his  officers  on  the  trans 
ports  in  regard  to  landing,  the  nature  of  the  service  expected 
of  them,  and  the  precedence  of  rank  to  be  observed  toward  the 
American  troops. 

The  voyage  now  began  to  get  interesting.  On  June  1 1  the 
Surveillante  and  Amazone,  after  an  exciting  chase  of  eight 
hours,  captured  a  small  English  vessel  from  Halifax. 

On  June  18  the  fleet  passed  in  sight  of  Bermuda,  about  600 
miles  off  the  American  mainland.  On  the  same  day  the 
Surveillante  and  Amazone,  acting  as  scout  ships,  took  an 
English  brig  of  12  guns,  outward  from  Charleston.  From  its 
commander  was  received  tidings  of  the  siege  and  capitulation 
of  that  city  of  South  Carolina  to  the  British  land  forces  under 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  and  the  fleet  under  Harriot  Arbuthnot.  The 
combined  operations  began  by  the  appearance  of  Arbuthnot  and 
his  convoy  from  New  York  off  the  harbor  early  in  March,  1780. 
An  entrance  was  forced  a  month  later.  The  city,  being  com 
pletely  surrounded,  was  compelled  to  surrender  on  May  12. 
The  garrison,  commanded  by  General  Lincoln,  was  granted 
humiliating  terms  and  the  city  given  up  to  pillage. 

The  French  admiral  now  had  recurring  evidences  of  the  prox 
imity  of  the  American  coast  and  the  presence  of  British  cruisers 
and  more  formidable  vessels  of  war. 

About  two  days  later  the  fleet  sighted  5  English  sail  of  the 
line  and  a  frigate  to  the  northeast,  which  showed  fight,  but  were, 
however,  allowed  to  proceed  unmolested. 

This  action  on  the  part  of  the  admiral  led  to  much  criticism 
by  the  officers  aboard  the  transports,  particularly  as  he  had  kept 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         283 

up  a  fierce  cannonade  at  long  range  for  fully  three-quarters  of 
an  hour.  The  two  squadrons  held  the  same  course  during  the 
day,  but  under  cover  of  the  night  the  English  disappeared  to 
the  southward. 

Deuxponts,  the  most  outspoken,  declared  if  the  admiral  had 
instructions  not  to  fight  he  should  not  have  begun  the  battle; 
if  he  were  free  to  fight  he  should  have  used  his  advantage. 

DK  ROCHAMBEAU,  inferentially  from  his  ' '  Observations, ' ' 
commended  De  Ternay  for  considering  the  safety  of  his  convoy 
paramount  to  his  own  glory  of  capturing  a  vessel  or  two  of  the 
enemy. 

The  ships  sighted  were  part  of  Commodore  Cornwallis's 
squadron  returning  to  the  West  Indies  after  convoying  troops 
to  the  Bermudas. 

NEWPORT  THE  GOAL 

The  admiral  had  orders  to  go  to  the  coast  of  America  for 
objects  set  forth  in  his  own  instructions  and  those  of  Comte 
DE  ROCHAMBEAU  from  the  King.  Therefore  he  was  inclined 
to  exercise  great  caution,  although  the  land  officers  were  restive 
under  the  restraint.  A  mishap  through  the  fortunes  of  a  sea 
fight,  especially  as  he  was  convoying  a  fleet  of  helpless  trans 
ports,  carrying  a  considerable  army  of  troops  destined  for 
service  in  the  cause  of  American  independence,  was  to  him 
sufficient  reason  for  disregarding  an  opportunity  for  possible 
momentary  prestige. 

On  July  4  a  small  armed  vessel  was  captured,  supposed  to  be 
a  spy.  Toward  night  of  the  same  day,  off  the  entrance  to  the 
Chesapeake,  1 1  sail  were  signaled  in  sight  in  the  bay.  De  Ternay 
again  not  wishing  to  engage,  made  false  courses  under  cover  of 
darkness.  In  the  morning,  two  of  the  enemy's  ships  being  still 
in  sight,  he  started  in  pursuit.  This  detachment  of  the  enemy, 
however,  managed  to  escape  by  casting  its  guns  into  the  sea. 
Not  knowing  whether  the  enemy  was  Arbuthnot,  then  on  the 
American  station,  or  Grasse,  expected  with  reenforcement,  he 
took  the  wiser  course  and  steered  straight  for  Rhode  Island. 


284         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

The  vessels  sighted  the  day  before  proved  to  be  a  convoy  of 
3,000  English  troops,  protected  by  5  frigates,  on  a  voyage  from 
Charleston  to  New  York  to  prepare  for  a  possible  emergency 
growing  out  of  the  arrival  of  ROCH  AM  BEAU'S  army  and  a  coni- 
bined  movement  against  New  York. 

The  failure  of  De  Ternay  to  attack  under  auspices  so  favor 
able  caused  another  great  outcry  in  the  fleet. 

It  was  claimed  by  De  L,auzun  ' '  that  any  man  a  little  less 
timid  would  have  arrived  in  America  with  three  or  four  English 
vessels,  five  or  six  frigates,  .and  3,000  prisoners  of  war."  This, 
the  gay  legionary  thought,  would  have  been  a  very  "brilliant 
manner  of  showing  ourselves  to  our  new  allies." 

On  July  7  the  admiral  summoned  the  captains  of  the  ships  of 
the  line  and  frigates  on  board  for  a  council  of  war,  at  the  conclu 
sion  of  which  he  disclosed  the  tenor  of  the  secret  instructions 
under  which  he  was  pointing  for  Rhode  Island. 

INDICATIONS    OF    LAND 

From  July  7  to  9  the  thick  weather  gave  indications  of  the 
approach  to  land. 

On  July  9  at  6  a.  m.  the  lead  gave  bottom  at  4  fathoms.  On 
account  of  the  uncertainty  of  the  distance  off  shore  and  the  diffi 
culty  of  seeing  land  owing  to  fog,  the  ships  at  noon  let  go  their 
anchors. 

At  3  p.  m. .  the  weather  lifting,  the  fleet  was  again  underway 
and  soon  after  made  land,  first  discovered  from  the  masts  of  the 
Conquerant  without  being  able  to  identify  the  locality. 

At  7  p.  m. ,  approaching  cautiously  it  was  learned  from  the 
skipper  of  a  small  coasting  craft  that  the  land  first  seen  was 
Noman's  Land,  a  small  island  south  of  the  larger  island  of 
Martha's  Vineyard,  off  the  coast  of  Massachusetts. 

At  9  o'clock  the  vessels  hove  to.  The  next  morning,  July  10, 
at  4  a.  m.,  they  were  again  underway.  About  noon  .several 
pilots  from  the  islands  came  aboard  to  offer  their  services.  At 
10  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  fleet  again  made  land,  which 
proved  to  be  Rhode  Island,  and  anchored. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         285 

WELCOME,  THE  LILIES 

At  daybreak,  July  n,  the  ships  being  under  sail  in  a  thick 
fog  close  to  shore  were  in  imminent  danger  of  destruction,  but 
a  signal  from  one  of  the  transports  warned  them  of  their  peril. 
When  the  fog  lifted  the  fleet  was  in  full  sight  of  Point  Judith, 
a  league  distant,  the  ocean  ward  promontory  on  the  west  side 
of  the  entrance  to  Narragansett  Bay,  Rhode  Island,  with  New 
port  head  beyond.  At  each  shore  lookout  the  French  fleur- 
de-lis  on  a  ground  of  white  was  seen  waving — ''Rhode  Island 
in  American  hands  and  welcome,"  the  signal  prearranged  by 
Lafayette,  in  obedience  to  his  instructions  before  leaving  France. 

STANDING   IN    FOR   NARRA*GANSETT   WATERS 

The  American  pilots  secured  by  the  admiral  were  sent  aboard 
the  leading  ships.  In  the  afternoon  the  fleet  again  set  sail,  en 
tering  Newport  channel  toward  evening.  General  DE  ROCHAM- 
BEAU  with  his  staff  boarded  the  Hermione  and  sailed  for  New 
port  in  advance  of  the  convoy,  where  he  landed  before  noon. 

FROM    BREST   TO  NEWPORT 

The  voyage  was  unduly  long,  consuming  eighty-seven  days 
from  first  weighing  anchor. in  the  roads  of  Brest  to  dropping 
them  off  Newport  in  the  bay  of  Narragansett.  Scurvy  had 
invaded  the  ranks  of  the  troops,  some  of  whom  died  at  sea,  and 
a  third  were  fit  only  for  the  hospital.  The  fleet  itself  was  short 
of  water  and  provisions. 

The  British  reenforcements  of  6  ships  of  the  line,  sent  out  by 
Admiral  Graves  to  Arbuthnot,  who  had  succeeded  Byron,  reached 
New  York  (July  13)  but  forty-eight  hours  after  De  Ternay  put 
into  Newport.  A  few  days  later  the  French  admiral  would 
have  found  his  entrance  blocked  by  1 1  vessels.  This  in  itself 
justified  his  course  and  completely  vindicated  his  judgment  in 
evading  a  conflict. 


286         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

WASHINGTON    ANTICIPATES 

In  anticipation  of  the  arrival  of  the  French  fleet  and  army  off 
the  coast,  General  Washington  outlined  a  plan  of  operations 
having  in  view  the  reduction  of  New  York,  according  to  which 
Count  DE  ROCHAMBEATJ  and  Chevalier  de  Ternay  were  to  pro 
ceed  with  all  possible  expedition  to  Sandy  Hook,  where  they 
would  ''be  met  with  further  advices  of  the  precise  situation, 
strength,  and  disposition  of  the  enemy  and  of  the  American 
army,  with  the  proposals  for  their  future  movements, "  unless 
they  should  "secure  authentic  account  that  the  fleet  and  troops 
of  the  enemy  operating  in  the  southern  States  had  evacuated 
them  and  formed  a  junction  at  New  York." 

In  the  latter  case,  upon  their  arrival  at  Rhode  Island  they 
were  "to  disembark  their  troops,  dispose  of  their  sick,  and 
await  till  a  more  definite  plan  could  be' concerted." 

If  they  appeared  off  Cape  Henry  they  were  "to  proceed 
directly  to  Rhode  Island  and  make  the  same  arrangements." 

SITUATION   AND   STRENGTH    OF   THE    ENEMY 

It  was  Washington's  purpose  in  having  his  allies  proceed 
immediately  to  New  York  to  take  advantage  of  the  absence  of 
an  important  part  of  the  enemy's  fighting  force,  which  then 
consisted  of  8,000  British  regulars,  4,000  refugees,  and  such 
militia  as  might  be  gathered  by  "persuasion  or  force." 

Their  naval  strength  at  the  moment  was  but  one  74-gun  ship 
and  three  or  four  small  frigates. 

Under  these  conditions  the  forcing  of  New  York  Harbor  and 
capture  of  the  garrison  was  regarded  practicable. 

It  was  calculated  the  southern  expedition  of  Sir  Henry  Clin 
ton  had  drawn  off  about  7,000  troops,  three  ships  of  the  line, 
and  one  of  50,  two  of  44  guns,  and  some  smaller  frigates.  With 
these  forces  combined,  Washington  was  not  disposed  to  risk  an 
engagement. 

He  also  urged  the  importance  of  engaging  Count  de  Guichen 
in  his  cruising,  to  direct  his  movements  toward  the  American 
coast.  - 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         287 

SALUTATIONS    IN   EMBRYO 

In  getting  ready  for  the  felicitations  of  the  occasion  Wash 
ington  intrusted  Marquis  de  Lafayette  with  a  copious  budget 
of  complimentary  expressions  to  be  conveyed  by  him  to  the 
Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  and  Monsieur  de  Ternay  assuring 
"  them  of  all  respect  and  consideration  "  and  "of  the  high  sense 
I  entertain  of  this  distinguished  mark  of  his  Most  Christian 
Majesty's  friendship  to  these  States"  and  "of  the  happiness 
anticipated  in  a  personal  acquaintance  and  cooperation  with 
gentlemen,  whose  reputation  has  inspired  me  with  the  greatest 
esteem  for  their  talents  and  merit;"  adding,  "I  will  do  every 
thing  on  my  part  to  give  success  to  the  intended  operations. ' ' 

WASHINGTON'S  FINESSE 

As  a  military  ruse  in  connection  with  the  movements  of  the 
expected  French,  Washington  proposed  to  Lafayette  to  issue 
over  his  signature  two  proclamations  in  French  to  the  Canadi 
ans,  one  hinting  at  the  arrival  of  a  French  fleet  and  army  in  the 
St.  Lawrence,  with  cooperation  from  Rhode  Island,  and  "dwell 
ing  on  the  happy  opportunity  it  will  afford  them  to  renew  their 
ancient  friendship  with  France  by  joining  the  allied  arms  and 
assisting  to  make  Canada  a  part  of  the  American  confederation. ' ' 

The  other  was  to  be  drawn  ' '  on  the  supposition  of  the  fleet 
and  army  having  already  arrived  and  containing  an  animating 
invitation  to  arrange  themselves  under  the  allied  banners. ' ' 

As  a  further  specimen  of  the  great  chieftain's  adroit  methods 
it  was  proposed  that  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette  should  hold  him 
self  "  up  as  a  French  and  American  officer  charged  both  by  the 
King  of  France  and  by  the  Congress  of  the  States  with  a  com 
mission  to  address  them."  He  continued:  "  It  may  indeed  be 
well  to  throw  out  an  idea  that  you  are  to  command  the  corps  of 
American  troops  destined  to  cooperate  with  the  French  arma 
ment.  The  more  mystery  the  better.  It  will  get  out,  and  it 
ought  to,  but  seemingly  against  our  intention." 

The  document  was  prolix,  if  not  conclusive,  and  never  taken 
serioush7.  The  strategem,  however,  to  mislead  the  British  by 
drawing  attention  from  New  York  was  in  a  measure  successful. 


288         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

SECRETS   TO   A   TRAITOR 

The  proclamation  did  get  out,  though  in  a  very  different  form 
than  intended. 

On  June  4,  a  little  over  three  months  before  treachery  was 
discovered,  General  Washington,  at  Morristown,  inclosed  to 
Arnold,  who  had  had  command  of  an  expedition  to  Canada  in 
the  earlier  part  of  the  Revolution ,  a  draft  directing  him  to  ' '  put 
it  into  the  hands  of  a  printer  whose  secrecy  and  discretion  may 
be  depended  upon."  Five  hundred  copies  were  struck  off. 

At  this  very  moment  the  traitor  was  ingratiating  himself 
with  the  enemy  by  sending  intelligence  to  the  British  com 
mander  of  the  movements  and  plans  of  the  army.  It  is  natural 
to  presume  that  Washington's  injunction  as  to  the  printer,  "not 
to  reserve  a  copy  for  himself  nor  suffer  one  to  get  abroad," 
had  no  restraint  on  this  mischievous  character,  and  that  the 
information,  with  a  copy,  was  placed  forthwith  in  the  hands 
of  Clinton.  It  came  out  afterwards  that  several  copies  fell  into 
possession  of  the  British  commander,  who  sent  one  to  George 
Germaine,  war  secretary,  at  London,  with  the  observation  "to 
be  published  in  Canada. ' ' 

PLEASANTRIES    FOR   LUZERNE 

In  a  letter  from  Morristown,  early  in  June,  to  the  Chevalier 
de  la  lyuzerne  paving  the  way  to  the  expected,  Washington 
referred  to  "proofs  of  the  generous  zeal  of  your  countrymen. 
I  am  happy  in  believing  that  the  troops  and  citizens  of  these 
States  will  eagerly  embrace  every  opportunity  to  manifest  their 
affection  to 'the  troops  and  citizens  of  your  nation,  as  well  as 
their  gratitude  and  veneration  for  a  prince  from  whom  they  have 
received  the  most  important  benefits. ' '  He  spoke  of  the  account 
the  Marquis  de  L,afayette  had  given  him  of  what  his  excellenc)^ 
' '  had  done  for  the  advancement  of  the  combined  operations, ' ' 
and  asked  his  advice  with  the  greatest  freedom. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         289 

ENGLAND    ALARMED 

Sir  Henry  Clinton  was  advised  of  these  suspicious  prepara 
tions  at  Brest  as  early  as  March,  nearly  two  months  before  the 
fleet  got  fairly  under  way.  The  great  alarm  felt  in  England 
for  the  safety  of  Newfoundland,  Halifax,  and  Canada  was 
marked.  The  latter  was  supposed  to  be  the  real  objective  of 
the  French  forces,  where  they  were  to  be  cooperated  with  by 
the  Americans  in  the  hope  of  arousing  the  Canadians  at  seeing 
their  former  countrymen  once  more  in  arms  on  Canadian  soil. 

These  inferences  seemed  to  be  justified  by  the  return  of  Mar 
quis  Lafayette  with  clothing,  arms,  money,  and  other  supplies 
suitable  for  such  an  expedition. 

In  the  caviling  which  usually  follows  in  the  wake  of  an 
unsuccessful  war,  Mr.  Fox,  in  the  British  House  of  Commons 
on  February  7,  1782,  commenting  on  the  mismanagement  of 
naval  affairs  in  the  war  for  the  Crown  in  the  States  had  this 
to  say: 

' '  From  the  same  criminal  negligence  the  Chevalier  de  Ternay  was 
permitted  to  sail  unmolested  with  his  squadron  to  North  America,  when 
he  transported  thither  those  numerous  military  forces  which  captured 
the  army  of  L,ord  Cornwallis."  , 

A  New  York  newspaper,  before  the  sailing,  announced  as  a 
fact  that  M.  de  Ternay  would  command  a  squadron  of  ships  con 
voying  six  regiments  destined  to  aid  the  States.  Therefore  the 
secrecy  imposed  was  no  longer  necessary,  although  information 
was  given  out  very  slowly  and  with  the  greatest  caution. 

The  coming  of  a  fleet  with  an  auxiliary  army  having  been 
referred  to  Congress,  a  three  days'  debate  ensued,  when  resolu 
tions  were  passed  in  accordance  with  the  views  of  the  French 
minister,  M.  de  la  L,uzerne,  respecting  the  gathering  of  a  suffi 
cient  number  of  American  troops  to  make  combined  operations 
possible  and  prompt. 

It  was  a  general  supposition,  in  which  Washington  shared, 

as  early  as  May  preceding  the  arrival  of  the  fleet,  that  the 

destruction  of  Halifax  and  of  the  naval  arsenal  at  that  point 

was  the  primary  object  of  our  allies.     Washington  therefore 

S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 19 


290         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

obtained  plans  of  the  harbor  and  defenses  of  that  stronghold 
for  their  information  and  use  upon  their  arrival  at  Newport. 

With  his  usual  foresight  Washington  made  careful  prepara 
tions  for  the  proper  reception  and  accommodatio'n  of  the  fleet, 
giving  personal  orders  to  have  officers  stationed  at  different 
posts  along  the  coast  to  signal,  should  it  appear,  and  com 
municate  with  it  immediately.  He  also  made  arrangements 
for  pilots  familiar  with  the  coast.  He  dispatched  Major  Galvan, 
a  Frenchman  in  the  Continental  service,  with  a  letter  to  Gov 
ernor  Jefferson  to  have  lookouts  at  the  Chesapeake  capes. 

The  general  in  chief  also  sent  personal  directions  to  Major 
L,ee,  in  command  of  an  advance  detachment,  to  take  post  in 
New  Jersey  below  Sandy  Hook;  to  put  himself  in  communica 
tion  with  Major  Forman,  who  would  arrive  as  bearer  of  dis 
patches  to  the  fleet  should  it  appear;  also  empowered  him  to 
impress  food  of  every  kind  afforded  by  the  country,  giving 
certificates  therefor;  to  command  any  militia  in  service,  and 
orders  to  dispatch  a  dragoon  to  headquarters  and  another  to 
the  minister  of  France  at  Philadelphia  with  intelligence  regard 
ing  the  moment  of  the  arrival  of  the  French  fleet. 

THOUGHTFUL   PREPARATIONS 

As  soon  as  it  became  known  to  Washington  that  the  French 
fleet  would  touch  at  Rhode  Island  to  land  the  sick  and  the  sur 
plus  stores  and  receive  information  necessary  to  intelligent  coop 
eration,  General  Heath,  one  of  his  most  trusted  officers,  who  at 
the  time  was  at  his  home  at  Roxbury  on  leave,  received  orders 
to  proceed  to  Providence  to  welcome  its  arrival. 

On  May  16  General  Heath  was  met  by  Deputy- Governor 
Bowen  and  a  party  of  citizens  and  formally  escorted  into  Provi 
dence. 

M.  lyouis  Kthis  de  Corny,  commissary-general  of  the  French 
forces,  followed  early  in  June  to  assist  in  the  general  preparation. 
De  Corny,  properly  lieutenant-colonel  of  cavalry  in  the  Ameri 
can  army,  happening  to  be  at  Versailles  when  the  ROCHAMBEAU 
expedition  was  being  arranged,  was  appointed  to  perform  the 
duties  indicated  in  advance  of  the  arrival  of  the  French  army. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         291 

His  reception  at  Providence  was  most  demonstrative  as  well 
as  cordial.  A  troop  of  horse  met  and  attended  him  to  the  town 
hall,  where  he  was  formally  welcomed.  The  Rhode  Island 
government  ordered  vacated  a  suitable  mansion  for  his  accom 
modation.  At  his  request  the  college  building  was  converted 
into  a  hospital  for  the  French  sick. 

The  commander  in  chief,  with  his  usual  foresight,  sent  Doctor 
Craik,  his  friend  and  chief  medical  officer,  to  Newport  with 
directions  to  take  up  proper  houses  for  hospitals  and  to  make 
some  preliminary  arrangements  in  that  department,  referring  to 
the  expected  arrival  of  the  French  fleet  at  Rhode  Island.  He 
was  especially  solicitous  concerning  preparations  to  land  the 
sick  and  the  supernumerary  stores  and  the  perfection  of 
arrangements  necessary  to  direct  operations. * 

ORDKRS   TO   HEATH. 

In  a  letter  of  June  2,  1780,  to  Major-General  Heath,  now  in 
command  at  Newport,  the  chief  gave  specific  directions  con 
cerning  the  consideration  due  the  French  general  and  admiral 
upon  their  arrival,  mentioning  the  need  of  the  advice  and 
assistance  of  a  person  of  discretion  and  judgment.  He  there 
fore  requested  him  to  present  himself  to  them  upon  arrival, 
letting  them  know  that  they  might  command  his  services. 
He  also  wished  him,  in  conjunction  with  the  governor,  to  estab 
lish  a  market  between  the  fleet  and  army  and  the  country,  and 
be  careful  that  the  allies  be  not  imposed  upon  in  prices. 

He  placed  great  stress  upon  this  as  a  policy  which  should  be 
strictly  adhered  to. 

By  the  next  opportunity  he  promised  a  letter  from  the  Mar 
quis  de  Lafayette  to  Lieutenant-General  Count  DE  ROCHAM- 
BEAU  and  Admiral  de  Ternay. 

A  popular  vent  for  the  intense  patriotic  activity  of  the  people 
was  found  in  a  grand  celebration  of  the  fourth  anniversary  of 
American  independence.  Thirteen  guns  were  fired  in  honor 
of  the  event.  The  governor,  French  commissary,  and  many 
distinguished  citizens  sat  down  to  a  dinner  w.ith  General  Heath. 


292          French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

As  a  result  of  all  this  zeal  and  energy,  everything  was  in 
readiness  to  meet  the  formalities  and  realties  of  the  presence 
of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  his  army  and  de  Ternay  and  his  ships  and 
convoy  in  the  waters  of  Rhode  Island. 

NEWPORT    BY   THE   SEA 

Among  the  coast  ports  of  the  American  States  none  save  New 
York  was  so  conspicuously  identified  with  the  strategic  move 
ments  of  both  sides  on  land  and  sea  as  the  beautiful  maritime 
city  of  Newport  of  the  ancient  province  of  Rhode  Island. 

In  fact,  for  the  purposes  of  vantage,  in  the  sailing  days  of 
Revolutionary  times,  taking  the  entire  stretch  of  coast  line  from 
Fundy  to  the  Chesapeake,  it  was  second  only  to  the  city  of  New 
York  in  convenience  of  situation,  ease  of  access,  depth  of  water, 
area  and  security  of  anchorage. 

It  was  in  a  great  measure  the  land  importance,  in  a  military 
sense,  of  New  York,  at  the  outlet  of  the  Hudson  and  the  natural 
barrier  between  the  New  England  and  the  middle  States  of  the 
confederation,  which  gave  that  city  selection  and  preponderance 
over  its  numerically  smaller  neighbor  to  the  eastward.  Yet 
Newport  was  not  ignored.  D'Estaing  found  there  a  strong  gar 
rison  of  the  enemy  well  planted  in  the  summer  of  1778. 

The  American  general  in  chief  had  the  same  idea  of  the.  tac 
tical  value  of  the  city.  Before  the  arrival  of  ROCHAMBEAU, 
through  a  ruse  he  cleared  the  British  out  of  their  defenses  and 
left  an  open  way  for  the  oncoming  fleet  of  France  and  defen 
sive  room  for  its  troops. 

It  had  also  the  immediate  advantage  of  abundant  food  sup 
plies  and  an  energetic  peopk,  fired  in  the  highest  degree  with 
the  noble  impulse  of  patriotism.  It  had  borne  this  reputation 
for  more  than  a  century  and  a  half,  having  risen -in  colonial 
days  to  the  dignity  of  one  of  the  chief  commercial  cities  oi  New 
England  and  always  loyal  to  the  Crown. 

The  naval  authorities  of  France  evidently  well  knew  their 
business  when  they  made  it  the  point  of  destination  for  the 
expedition  of  D'Estaing  and  better  when  they  fixed  upon  it  as 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America        293 

the  base  of  the  fleet  of  de  Ternay  and  landing  ground  for  the 
army  of  DE  ROCHAMBKAU. 

By  land  it  lay  about  70  miles  south  of  Boston,  a  not  much 
greater  distance  east  of  New  York,  and  far  enough  from  the 
ocean  to  be  out  of  reach  of  the  guns  of  an  enemy  and  near 
enough  to  be  within  easy  exit  to  challenge  the  most  daring  foe. 

It  commanded  all  ocean  approaches  and  nowhere  on  the  coast 
was  there  a  better  seat  of  operations  against  a  maritime  adver 
sary.  It  was  a  constant  menace  of  the  British  fleet  at  Gardiner 
Bay,  at  the  Montauk  end  of  Long  Island,  and  a  vigilant  out 
look  on  commerce  seeking  entrance  to  the  Sound,  with  the  same 
eye  on  naval  and  commercial  operations  in  and  out  of  New  York 
Harbor. 

COURIERS    FOR    HEADQUARTERS   AND    CONGRESS 

Upon  the  first  sighting  of  the  French  fleet  and  convoy  off 
the  coast,  an  express  was  hurried  away  to  Providence  to  apprise 
General  Heath  of  the  welcome  tidings.  He  was  at  that  city  per 
fecting  his  arrangement  of  an  equitable  understanding  on  prices 
between  the  fleet  and  the  country  on  a  common  basis,  as  between 
French  coin  and  Continental  scrip,  far  beyond  redemption. 

The  general  in  town  sent  a  fleet  courier  to  the  headquarters 
of  Washington,  then  in  Bergen  County,  N.  J.,  informing  him 
the  French  fleet  had  arrived  off  Newport  on  the  evening  of  the 
loth  and  was  standing  into  the  harbor  when  the  express  departed. 

The  General  himself  hastily  started  for  Newport,  in  order 
to  give  the  French  commanders  of  the  land  and  sea  forces  of 
the  allies  a  suitable  welcome  and  tender  of  services. 

The  letter  of  Heath  reached  Washington  on  the  i4th.  The 
same  day  word  was  passed  along  by  relays  to  Congress,  convey 
ing  the  glad  intelligence,  adding,  "  the  signals  of  recognizance 
were  made  and  the  fleet  was  standing  into  the  harbor." 

The  general  in  chief  not  only  congratulated  Congress  but 
entreated  it  to  press  every  measure  in  its  power  to  put  affairs 
in  condition  to  begin  intended  cooperation  with  vigor  and 
efficiency. 


294         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

DUMFOUNDING   INDIFFERENCE 

In  the  opinion  of  Washington,  a  source  of  congratulation  to 
all  was  the  extraordinary  fact  of  the  appearance  of  de  Ternay 
on  the  coast  of  America  within  less  than  a  hundred  miles  of 
New  York  Harbor,  the  chief  naval  station  of  Great  Britain  on 
the  coast  of  the  States,  and  his  safe  arrival  at  his  prearranged 
anchorage  in  Narragansett  Bay,  without  any  efforts  whatever 
on  the  part  of  the  enemy  to  intercept,  delay,  or  engage  his  fleet 
with  its  transports  laden  with  troops,  supplies  of  gold,  and 
equipment  of  ships,  guns,  men,  and  materials  of  war  generally. 
Upon  the  receipt  of  Heath's  letter  Washington  dispatched 
Lafayette  to  Newport  with  full  instructions  to  concert  meas 
ures  for  future  operations  with  the  French  general  and  admiral. 

At  Peekskill,  on  his  way,  the  marquis,  meeting  French 
officers  en  route  to  Washington's  headquarters  with  documents 
from  their  chiefs,  returned  with  them  for  further  orders. 

ROCHAMBEAU    REPORTS   TO   WASHINGTON 

In  a  letter  dated  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  at  the  earliest  moment 
after  his  arrival,  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  in  transmitting  his 
instructions,  laid  before  General  Washington  a  connected 
account  of  events  after  the  departure  of  the  Marquis  de  Lafa 
yette  from  France,  and  of  his  own  acts  since  his  arrival,  as 
follows : 

Being  ordered  by  the  King,  my  master,  to  come  and  put  myself  under 
your  command,  I  arrive  with  the  deepest  feelings  of  submission,  of  zeal, 
and  of  veneration  for  your  person,  and  for  the  distinguished  talents  which 
you  display  in  supporting  an  ever  memorable  war. 

Since  M.  de  Lafayette  left  France  we  have  met  with  many  disappoint 
ments.  The  departure  of  M.  de  Guichen  had  taken  away  the  transport 
ships  from  Brest.  Orders  were  given  as  early  as  the  month  of  February, 
to  replace  them  by  others  from  Harve,  St.  Malo,  and  Bordeaux.  The  first 
two  of  these  harbors  were  blockaded  by  a  small  English  squadron,  and 
the  ships  were  unable  to  leave  Bordeaux  on  account  of  the  same  head 
winds,  which  detained  us  so  long.  The  King  determined  to  send  me 
with  a  first  division,  taking  with  me  whatever  could  be  embarked  at  Brest. 
I  was  aided  as  far  as  possible  by  the  royal  navy,  and  we  were  ready  to  sail 
on  the  I4th  of  April  with  5,000  men,  field-  and  siege  artillery,  and  other 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         295 

things  in  proportion.  We  were  prevented  from  going  to  sea  by  head 
winds  until  the  2d  of  May  ;  and,  in  order  not  to  render  this  letter  too  long, 
permit  me  to  refer  you  for  the  particulars  of  our  voyage  to  the  copy  of 
the  account  which  I  send  to  the  French  minister. 

We  are  now,  sir,  under  your  command.  I  have  received  at  this  place 
M.  de  Lafayette's  letters.  As  the  return  of  Clinton  and  of  Arbuthnot  has 
altered  the  state  of  things  since  the  first,  I  shall  follow  the  last  orders 
which  you  sent  me,  and  I  am  engaged  in  landing  the  troops  at  Newport, 
in  Rhode  Island.  The  Chevalier  de  Ternay  desired  that  until  we  are  able 
to  commence  operations,  we  should  give  each  other  mutual  support  at 
this  post.  I  am  about  to  encamp  with  Newport  in  my  rear,  and  occupy 
ing  the  whole  of  the  extremity  of  the  island  on  the  side  of  the  enemy. 
The  Chevalier  de  Ternay  anchors  in  the  harbor  and  will  establish  a  post 
and  batteries  upon  the  island  of  Connanicut.  In  this  position  we  can 
defy  all  the  English  forces.  Our  long  detention  in  the  harbor  and  our 
long  passage  have  given  us  many  sick,  but  few  are  dangerously  so,  and 
three  weeks'  rest  will  fully  recruit  them. 

At. the  same  time  I  am  busily  engaged  with  M.  de  Corny,  who,  accord 
ing  to  your  excellency's  order,  has  made  all  the  preparations  which  he 
could  in  hastening  the  arrival  of  the  wagons  for  provisions  and  baggage, 
and  horses  enough  to  mount  a  few  officers,  and  if  possible  a  hundred  of. 
L,auzun's  hussars ;  and  I  hope  that  in  a  month  we  shall  be  ready  to  act 
under  your  excellency's  orders.  In  the  meanwhile,  I  trust  that  the  second 
division  will  reach  us,  or  at  least  that  we  shall  hear  of  its  sailing.  The 
King  charged  me  personally  to  assure  your  excellency  that  he  would  give 
all  possible  assistance  to  his  allies,  and  that  this  advanced  guard  would 
be  supported  by  his  whole  power ;  and  the  strongest  proof  which  I  can 
give  you  of  it  is  that  the  whole  detachment  was  ready  to  embark  at  Brest 
on  the  first  of  April  if  there  had  been  a  sufficient  number  of  transports. 
M.  Duchaffault  was  in  the  harbor  with  a  large  number  of  ships,  and  noth 
ing  was  waited  for  but  the  arrival  of  the  convoy  from  Bordeaux  to  appoint 
a  second  squadron  to  accompany  the  second  division. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  for  me  to  tell  your  excellency  that  I  bring  suffi 
cient  funds  to  pay  in  cash  for  whatever  is  needed  by  the  King's  army,  and 
that  we  shall  maintain  as  strict  discipline  as  if  we  were  under  the  walls  of 
Paris.  General  Heath  arrived  this  morning.  This  place  is  very  destitute 
of  provisions  of  all  sorts,  and  the,  inhabitants  have  been  always  afraid  of 
seeing  the  enemy  back  again.  General  Heath  has  sent  to  all  parts  of  the 
country  the  news  of  our  arrival,  of  our  discipline,  and  of  our  cash  pay 
ments,  and  I  do  not  doubt  that  in  a  few  days  we  shall  find  here  an  abun 
dant  market.  I  join  to  this  letter  a  copy  of  my  instructions,  and  even  of 
my  secret  instructions  also,  as  I  do  not -choose  to  have  any  secrets  with  my 
general. 


296         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 
ROCH  AM  BEAU'S  INSTRUCTIONS 

The  King's  instructions  to  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  (dated 
at  Versailles,  March  i,  1780)  outlined  his  duty  and  discipline  as 
follows: 

His  Majesty  having  determined  to  send  a  considerable  body  of  troops  to 
America  to  the  assistance  of  his  allies,  the  United  States,  has  appointed 
Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  one  of  his  lieutenant-generals,  to  the  chief  com 
mand  of  the  twelve  battalions  of  infantry,  which  are  to  be  commanded, 
under  his  orders,  by  four  major-generals.  This  corps,  which  His  Majesty 
has  furnished  with  its  proper  complement  of  artillery  for  sieges  and  serv 
ice  in  the  field,  is  to  be  in  readiness  to  start  from  Brest  in  the  first  days 
of  April  under  the  escort  of  a  squadron  of  six  ships  of  the  line,  commanded 
by  the  Chevalier  de  Ternay. 

In  sending  such  considerable  succors  to  cooperate  with  General 
Washington,  commander  in  chief  of  the  troops  of  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  of  North  America,  in  the  military  operations  which  he  may 
determine  upon,  the  intentions  of  His  Majesty  are: 

ARTICLE  I.  That  the  general  to  whom  His  Majesty  intrusts  the.  com 
mand  of  his  troops  should  always  and  in  all  cases  be  under  the  command 
of  General  Washington. 

ARTICLE  II.  That  all  projects  and  plans  for  the  campaign  or  for  private 
expeditions  should  be  decided  upon  by  the  American  general,  keeping  in 
view  that  harmony  which  His  Majesty  hopes  to  see  between  the  two 
commanders  in  chief  and  the  generals  and  soldiers  of  the  two  nations. 

ARTICLE  III.  The  French  troops,  being  only  auxiliaries,  should,  on  this 
account,  as  was  done  in  Germany  in  the  campaign  of  1757,  yield  prece 
dence  and  the  right  to  the  American  troops;  and  this  decision  is  to  hold 
good  in  all  general  or  particular  cases  which  may  occur.  The  French 
general  who  took  part  in  the  campaign  mentioned  as  an  example,  and 
who,  moreover,  is  perfectly  well  acquainted  with  military  rules,  will  give 
the  greatest  attention  to  maintain  this  arrangement  and  to  have  it 
observed  in  its  full  extent.  He  will  take  care  -to  give  previous  informa 
tion  of  it  to  the  general  officers  and  the  troops  under  his  command,  in 
order  to  avoid  any  difficulty  that  might  disturb  the  good  understanding 
which  His  Majesty  hopes  to  see  prevail  between  the  two  armies  united 
under  the  command  of  General  Washington. 

ARTICLE  IV.  In  consequence  of  the  above  article,  the  American  officers 
with  equal  rank  and  the  same  date  of  commission  shall  have  the  command, 
and  in  all  cases  the  American  troops  shall  take  the  right.  In  all  military 
acts  and  capitulations  the  Americ'an  general  and  troops  shall  be  named 
first  and  will  sign  first,  as  has  always  been  the  custom,  and  in  accordance 
with  the  principles  above  laid  down  with  regard  to  auxiliary  troops. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         297 

ARTICLE  V.  It  is  His  Majesty's  expectation  and  very  positive  order  to 
Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  that  he  will  see  to  the  exact  and  literal  execution 
of  the  above  four  articles. 

ARTICLE  VI.  The  corps  of  French  troops  will  retain  in  all  cases,  as  has 
always  been  the  custom,  full  jurisdiction  and  rights  of  trial  over  every 
individual  belonging  to  it.  The  decision  of  His  Majesty  upon  a  question 
of  this  nature  which  arose  at  Brest  concerning  the  Spanish  troops  is  to 
serve  for  a  precedent  in  this  matter,  according  to  the  laws  of  nations. 

ARTICLE  VII.  His  Majesty  having  provided  for  all  the  wants  of  the 
troops  who  may  be  sent  from  Europe,  expects  that,  as  Congress  and  Gen 
eral  Washington  have  been  previously  informed  of  the  intended  succors 
and  of  the  number  of  troops  His  Majesty  has  determined  to  send  to  North 
America,  and  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette  having  been  especially  charged  to 
give  them  notice  of  it  and  also  of  the  moment  of  their  arrival,  the  strictest 
orders  will  have  been  issued  for  furnishing  the  necessary  provisions  and 
refreshments  of  all  kinds  and  the  horses  required  for  transporting  the 
French  artillery,  and  that  these  supplies  will  be  at  hand  wherever  cir 
cumstances  may  render  it  advisable  for  the  French  troops  to  land.  As 
His  Majesty  sends  with  the  Marquis  de  I/afayette  a  commissary  of  war  who 
is  in  future  to  be  employed  for  these  troops,  he  hopes  that  every  precau 
tion  will  be  taken  in  concert  with  this  commissary  to  furnish  provisions, 
hospitals,  and  whatever  else  may  be  needed  by  the  French  troops.  This 
article  is  of  the  highest  importance,  and  His  Majesty  trusts  that  Congress 
and  General  Washington  will  feel  its  indispensable  necessity. 

ARTICLE  VIII.  His  Majesty  confides  to  the  prudence  of  Count  DE 
ROCHAMBEAU,  to  his  zeal  and  military  talents,  and  above  all  to  hiS  firm 
ness,  the  care  of  maintaining  among  the  French  troops  under  his  com 
mand  the  most  severe  and  exact  discipline  in  all  respects;  above  all  it  is 
enjoined  upon  him  to  promote  by  all  possible  means  the  greatest  harmony 
and  good  understanding  between  the  French  and  the  American  troops  and 
all  the  inhabitants  who  are  either  subjects  or  allies  of  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  of  North  America. 

Although  it  is  left  entirely  to  General  Washington  to  dispose  as  he 
pleases  of  the  auxiliary  troops  sent  to  America,  His  Majesty  would  desire 
that,  in  case  the  French  division  should  not  be  immediately  united  with 
General  Washington,  and  should  be  detached  for  any  expedition  with  an 
American  corps,  the  two  French  and  American  general  officers  might  be 
independent  of  each  other,  whatever  their  rank,  and  act  in  concert  without 
either  giving  or  receiving  orders. 

PRINCE  DE  MONTBARREY. 


298         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

SECRET   INSTRUCTIONS 

Iii  addition  to  the  general  direction  of  the  powers  and  duties 
of  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  were  the  following,  of  a  secret 
nature: 

ARTICLE  I.  His  Majesty  desires  and  orders  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  to 
retain,  as  far  as  circumstances  will  permit,  the  French  troops  intrusted  to 
his  command  collected  together  in  one  corps,  and  to  represent  on  a  proper 
occasion  to  General  Washington,  commander  in  chief  of  the  troops  of 
Congress,  under  whose  orders  the  French  troops  are  to  serve,  that  it  is,  the 
King's  intention  that  the  French  troops  should  not  be  dispersed,  but  that 
they  should  always  act  in  a  body  and  under  French  generals,  except  in  the 
case  of  temporary  detachments,  which  are  to  rejoin  the  principal  corps  in 
a  few  days. 

ARTICLE  II.  His  Majesty  intends  that  the  corps  of  French  troops  sent 
to  the  assistance  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  of  North  America 
should  keep  its  own  guards,  and  should  perform  all  the  service,  having  in 
view  its  security  in  the  camps,  cantonments,  or  quarters  which  it  may 
occupy. 

EN   VOYAGE 

The  following  is  the  narration  of  the  voyage  from  the  pen 
of  ROCHAMBEAU  himself: 

We  lay  a  month  in  Brest  roads  windbound,  till  during  the  night  of  May 
i  to  2  a  sharp  breeze  sprung  up  from  the  northward.  The  Chevalier  de 
Ternay  took  advantage  of  this,  and  with  all  his  convoy  cleared  the  passage 
called  the  "  Passe  du  Rat."  Three  days  after  his  ships  encountered  the 
most  boisterous  weather  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay.  He  was  separated  from  his 
convoy  during  four  days. 

As  the  wind  fell  he  rallied  them  and  doubled  Cape  Finisterre  in  good 
order.  The  English  Admiral  had  sailed  with  the  same  north  wrind,  but 
the  hurricane  drove  him  into  port,  which  allowed  the  French  convoy  to 
take  and  keep  the  lead. 

We  steered  our  course  to  the  south  of  the  Azores.  On  the  2oth  of  June, 
when  to  the  south  of  Bermuda,  we  discovered  six  sail  bearing  down  with 
all  possible  speed  upon  the  convoy.  The  Chevalier  de  Ternay  rallied 
them  in  the  rear  of  his  line  and  faced  the  enemy,  who  was  surprised  to 
see  seven  line-of-battle  ships  emerge  from  among  the  merchantmen. 

The  body  of  our  squadron  bore  up  before  the  wind.  One  of  the  Eng 
lish  ships  ventured  away  from  the  others  and  came  within  reach  of  our 
line,  but  was  soon  sharply  chased  and  nearly  captured. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         299 

The  Chevalier  de  Ternay  perceiving  that  one  of  his  ships,  the  Provence, 
was  unable  to  keep  up,  and  the  enemy  meanwhile  bearing  up  before  the 
wind,  thus  threatening  to  cut  her  off,  signaled  the  nearest  vessels  to 
lessen  sail.  The  Englishman  tacked  back  to  his  squadron,  but  not  without 
receiving  a  broadside  from  the  French. 

The  two  squadrons  kept  up  a  duel  of  broadsides  until  sunset,  when  de 
Ternay  steered  his  course  onward. 

The  English  squadron,  commanded  by  Captain  Cornwallis,  was  return 
ing  to  Jamaica,  having  conducted  a  convoy  to  Bermuda. 

A  few  days  before  this  encounter  the  French  captured  a  cutter  of  the 
enemy  conveying  a  party  of  officers  from  Charleston  to  the  islands.  From 
them  news  was  had  of  the  capture  of  Charleston  by  the  English. 

On  July  4  our  soundings  proved  we  were  near  the  coast  of  Virginia. 
We  took  a  small  vessel,  and  from  it  papers  confirming  the  capture  of 
Charleston  and  the  return  of  Admiral  Arbuthnot's  fle\st  to  New  York, 
together  with  the  troops  under  Clinton  which  had  participated  in  the 
siege. 

Five  thousand  men  had  been  left  at  Charleston  under  Lord  Cornwallis. 
t  The  return  of  this  corps,  we  had  information,  increased  the  garrison 
there  to  14,000  men,  and  that  Arbuthnot  was  expecting  L,ord  Graves  to  join 
him  from  England. 

ROCHAMBEAU    ON   THE   SITUATION 

In  commenting  in  after  years  upon  the  conditions  at  the 
time  of  his  arrival,  the  Count  says: 

Since  the  taking  of  Charleston  the  American  credit  had  greatly  declined. 
The  paper  currency  was  so  depreciated  that  $60  were  not  worth  more  than 
$i  of  the  specie.  General  Washington  having  sent  to  Carolina  nearly 
all  the  troops  of  the  southern  States  under  General  Gates,  was  confined  to 
the  defense  of  Jersey  with  his  army,  consisting  only  of  the  troops  of  the 
northern  States. 

The  arrival  of  the  French  troops,  although  inferior  in  number  to  what 
had  been  anticipated,  was  hailed  by  General  Washington  and  Congress 
with  sentiments  of  the  greatest  joy  and  gratitude.  The  early  arrival  of 
the  second  division,  which  was  announced  to  Congress  by  the  French 
representative  was  anxiously  looked  for,  as  well  as  the  increase  of  naval 
forces  which  it  was  to  bring  to  give  us  the  upper  hand  at  sea,  so  necessary 
to  enable  us  to  act  efficiently  against  the  English,  who  had  possession  of 
every  place  along  the  coast.  • 


300         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

ENTHUSIASM   IN   NEWPORT 

It  was  midnight  of  the  nth  when  General  Heath  reached 
Newport.  In  the  meantime  Count  DK  ROCHAMBKAU  had  landed 
with  a  single  company  of  grenadiers.  The  next  morning  the 
General  called  upon  the  Count  and  proffered  all  services  at  his 
command. 

After  breakfast  he  also  made  a  call  of  etiquette  upon  Chevalier 
de  Ternay  on  .his  flagship. 

At  10  a.  m.  the  Chevalier  fired  a  salute  of  13  guns  to  the 
town,  which  was  returned  by  the  American  batteries  on  shore. 

In  honor  of  the  arrival  the  town,  at  first  somewhat  bewildered 
by  the  novelty  of  the  situation,  was  soon  en  fete.  Flags  were 
displayed  and  the  people  flocked  to  the  shore. 

There  followed  a  series  of  ceremonial  exchanges  covering 
several  days — General  Heath  dining  with  Comte  DK  ROCHAM 
BKAU  on  the  1 2th,  Admiral  de  Ternay  and  his  principal  officers 
coming  ashore  as  a  return  compliment  to  General  Heath  on  the 
1 3th,  Comte  DK  ROCHAMBEAU  and  the  general  officers  of  the 
French  army  being  the  guests  of  General  Heath  on  the  i4th — 
in  mutual  felicitations  of  welcome,  acquaintance,  festive  enjoy 
ment  and  ' '  happy  fraternity, ' '  in  the  expressive  phrase  of  the 
General  himself. 

/ 

RKSOUJTIONS   OF   JOY 

On  Tuesday,  July  nth,  the  day  after  the  anchoring  of  the 
fleet  and  convoy,  the  inhabitants  of  Newport  gave  the  follow 
ing  formal  expression  of  their  feelings : 

Whereas  many  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Newport,  sincerely 
desirous  of  affording  their  utmost  aid  and  assistance  to  the  fleet  and  army 
of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty,  the  illustrious  ally  of  the  State,  now  within 
the  Harbour  and  Town  of  Newport,  have  associated  for  the  defence  thereof 
against  the  Common  Enemy;  and,  whereas,  the  same  Inhabitants  have 
been  heretofore  deprived  of  their  fire  arms  and  accoutrements  by  the  said 
Enemy,  and  are  now  in  want  of  a  sufficient  number  for  arming  and  equip 
ping  200  men;  Wherefore,  Resolved,  that  Major  General  Count  DK  ROCH 
AMBKAU,  Commander  of  the  Army  of  his  said  Christian  Majesty,  for  the 
Loan  of  a  sufficient  number  of  the  necessary  arms  and  accoutrements  for 
the  arming  and  equipping  sd  men,  &  this  Town  will  return  the  same  when 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         301 

thereto  required  by  General  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  &  that  the  Committee 
who  waited  on  Genl  Heath  yesterday  be  appointed  to  wait  on  him  with 
the  vote. 

Whereas,  upon  the  arrival  of  the  Fleet  &  Army  appointed  by  His  Most 
Christian  Majesty  to  cooperate  with  the  forces  of  these  United  States 
against  the  Common  Enemy,  the  Inhabitants  &  Citizens  of  this  town  are 
called  upon  from  the  Duty  &  Regard  they  owe  our  country,  &  the  Grati 
tude  &  Respect  which  is  due  from  every  citizen  to  the  Illustrious  Ally  of 
these  States,  as  well  as  to  afford  them  the  utmost  aid  &  Assistance,  also  to 
manifest  every  mark  of  respect  &  esteem  upon  their  arrival; 

Wherefore,  resolved,  That  all  Houses  in  the  Streets  hereafter  named  be 
illuminated  to-morrow  evening,  to-wit:  Thames  Street,  Congress  (hereto 
fore  called  Queen  Street),  Lewis  Street  (heretofore  called  King's  Street) 
Broad  Street,  leading  out  of  Town,  the  Street  leading  over  the  Point 
Bridge,  and  the  Street  leading  from  the  1'ong  Wharfe  to  the  point  Battry, 
and  such  other  Houses  in  this  Town  as  the  abilities  of  the  Occupants 
thereof  will  admit,  &  that  the  Lights  be  Continued  to  10  o'clock  in 
Evening: 

It  is  further  resolved,  that  Benj.  Almy,  Job  Baston,  George  Champlain, 
Jabez  Champlain,  Geo.  Sears,  Rob  Taylor,  John  Townsend,  John  Topham, 
Isaac  Dayton  &  William  Taggart  be  a  Committee  to  Patrole  the  Streets  to 
prevent  any  damage  arising  from  fire,  &  to  preserve  the  Peace  of  the 
Town;  Ordered  that  this  resolution  be  published  &  made  known  to  the 
Inhabitants  of  this  Town  by  beat  of  Drum. 

It  is  further  resolved,  the  Treasurer,  will  furnish  a  Box  of  Candles  at 
the  expense  of  the  Town,  &  that  the  same  be  distributed  to  those  of  the 
Inhabitants  who  reside  in  the  Streets  heretofore  ordered  to  be  Illuminated, 
and  who  are  not  of  abilities  to  furnish  the  same. 

The  illumination  took  place  and  enthusiasm  was  universal. 
In  addition  13  grand  rockets  were  sent  up  in  front  of  the  state 
house  in  honor  of  the  Union. 

ROCHAMBKAU    RECIPROCATES 

» 

As  soon  as  his  military  duties  permitted  Comte  DE  ROCHAM- 
BEAU  met  the  address  of  the  inhabitants  in  the  following  well- 
chosen  terms: 

Lieutenant-General  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  has  received  with  the  warm 
est  gratitude  the  address  which  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newport  were 
pleased  to  present  to  him.  He  begs  leave,  in  the  name  of  the  King,  his 
master,  their  ally,  as  much  as  in  his  own  and  that  of  the  army  under  his 
command,  most  particularly  to  acknowledge  this  new  mark  of  friendship 
from  the  citizens  of  America.  The  Count  has  the  honor  to  assure  the 


302          French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

inhabitants  of  Newport  that  his  reliance  on  their  zeal  and  gallantry  add  a 
great  degree  of  security  to  his  preparations  of  defense,  and  that  if  the 
enemy  is  so  daring  as  to  come  and  attack  Newport>  such  of  them  as  may 
want  arms  will  be  immediately  supplied. 

IvE    COMTE   DE   ROCHAMBEAU. 
SITE    OF   THE    FRENCH    CAMP 

In  the  meantime  General  Heath  pointed  out  to  the  French 
commander  the  location  of  his  camp,  which  was  in  a  high  and 
healthful  locality  southeast  of  the  town.  He  also  placed  him 
in  possession  of  the  batteries. 

THE    MAN   OF   THE    CRISIS 

Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  (Jean  Baptiste  Donatien  de  Virrieur) 
first  saw  the  light  of  his  gloriously  destined  career  at  the  pic 
turesque  town  of  Vendome,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Loire,  in 
the  Department  of  Loire  et  Chere,  France,  no  miles  south-south 
west  of  Paris,  on  July  i,  1725,  and  died  at  his  chateau  at  Thore, 
near  the  place  of  his  birth,  May  10,  1807,  a  span  lacking  but 
two  months  of  82  years — a  munificence,  indeed,  of  life's  allot 
ment,  considering  his  many  and  varied  perils  in  war  and  on  land 
and  sea. 

He  came  by  his  military  traits  in  the  logical  order  of  heredity, 
his  father  having  been  a  lieutenant-general  and  governor  of  the 
district  in  which  the  family  dwelt.  His  mother  was  governess 
to  the  children  of  the  Duke  of  Orleans,  brother  to  the  King. 
Marked  out  by  paternal  dictum  for  the  Church,  with  that  in  view, 
while  very  young  he  was  entered  at  the.  College  of  Jesuits  at  Blois. 
As  he  was  about  to  receive  the  tonsure  on  Easter  Sunday  of 
1742,  the  death  of  his  elder  brother  made  other  disposal  of 
man's  proposal,  he  having  fallen  heir  to  the  paternal  estate,  and, 
therefore,  becoming  master  of  his  own  inclinations. 

At  the  age  of  17  he  became  cornet  in  Regiment  Saint  Simon, 
serving  beyond  the  Rhine  in  Bavaria  and  Bohemia,  in  the  war 
over  the  Austrian  succession,  with  so  much  ardor  and  gallantry 
that  four  years  later  Louis  Philippe,  Duke  of  Orleans,  entered 
him  among  his  aids-de-camp. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         303 

It  is  not  in  place  here  to  descant  at  length  upon  the  succes 
sion  of  deeds  of  prowess  to  his  credit  in  the  gigantic  and 
desperate  struggles  of  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
ROCHAMBKAU  won  for  his  portion  a  brilliant  share  in  the  mili 
tary  transactions  of  that  eventful  period. 

We  shall  only  recount  enough  to  demonstrate  the  character 
of  the  soldier  sent  to  America  by  the  Bourbon  King,  to  manifest 
the  sincerity  of  his  aid  and  to  prove  the  valor  of  his  arms. 

On  the  rise  of  De  Clermont,  young  ROCHAMBKAU  was  trans 
ferred  to  the  military  household  of  that  master  of  maneuvers. 

In  the  Low  Countries  the  ambitious  youth,  seeing  his  chance, 
one  dark  night,  unknown  to  his  chief,  silently  scaled  a  precip 
itous  height  hitherto  regarded  inaccessible.  Coming  across 
two  sentinels  unconscious  of  danger,  quietly  smoking  under  cover 
of  a  gun,  he  crept  back,  reporting  his  observations  to  De  Cler 
mont.  A  strong  force  having  been  assembled  for  assault,  a 
heavy  bombardment  from  the  other  side  of  the  stream  diverted 
attention  in  that  direction.  At  a  signal,  with  ROCHAMBKAU, 
sword  in  hand,  at  their  head,  the  storming  column  went  scram 
bling  up  the  heights.  In  a  short  time  the  lilies  waved  over  the 
ramparts  of  Namur. 

For  this  daring,  as  the  first  step  of  his  career,  he  received  from 
his  King  the  colonelcy  of  Regiment  La  Marche,  he  being  not  quite 
22  years  of  age.  At  the  fearful  struggle  on  the  field  of  Lawfeldt, 
he  again  won  laurels,  but  was  twice  severely  wounded. 

At  the  siege  of  Maestricht,  the  citadel  of  the  Meuse,  the  next 
year  (1748)  he  again  performed  a  prodigy  of  arms.  With  but 
20  companies  of  grenadiers,  he  struck  for  the  key  to  the  posi 
tion  and  by  dint  of  the  most  audacious  charges  in  the  face  of 
bayonets,  captured  the  magazines  and  stores  of  the  enemy. 

The  war  went  on,  ROCHAMBKAU. adding  to  the  record  of  his 
achievements.  It  was  during  these  bitter  struggles  that  Regi 
ment  Dillon,  the  organization  of  Irishmen  in  the  service  of 
France,  notably  distinguished  itself  on  the  bloody  field  of  Fon- 
tenoy,  later  to  do  equal  honor  to  its  name  and  the  reddest  course 
of  Ireland's  blood  under  D'Estaing  and  DK  ROCHAMBKAU  for 
independence  in  America. 


304         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

The  peace  of  Aix-la-Chapelle  rung  down  the  curtain  on  this 
bitter  struggle.  Although  still  in  the  earliest  years  of  manhood 
ROCHAMBKAU  had  to  his  account  six  years  of  as  brilliant  service 
in  campaign  as  ever  won  by  any  of  his  age. 

True  to  the  analogies  of  war,  he  characterized  his  return  to 
the  quiet  of  private  life  by  one  of  the  greatest  conquests  of 
peace,  the  capture  of  the  heart  and  hand  of  the  beautiful  Telle 
d'Acosta,  of  an  ancient  and  highly  honored  family.  A  son, 
Donatien,  was  the  fruit  of  the  union,  the  companion  of  his  still 
higher  advancement  in  the  wars  and  politics  of  after  years,  in 
heritor  of  his  prowess  and  of  his  estate.  The  laurels  of  peace 
came  thick  and  fast.  His  King  favored  him  (1749)  with  the 
governorship  of  his  native  arrondissement  of  Vendome,  pre 
viously  held  by  his  father. 

The  monotony  of  civil  duties  and  court  frivolities  were  to  him 
a  trial  keener  than  the  fiercest  onset  of  battle  or  the  severest 
hardship  of  the  march.  He  looked  forward  to  a  fresh  outbreak 
of  war  as  a  new  occasion  for  distinguished  achievements. 

The  Seven  Years'  War  was  his  opportunity.  He  did  well  by 
the  opportunity  and  the  opportunity  did  well  by  him.  He 
began  his  part  in  this  drama  of  blood  in  the  opening  scene 
(1756)  under  the  famous  Due  de  Richelieu  in  the  expedition 
against  the  Minorcas.  His  assault  on  Fort  St.  Philippe  at  the 
head  of  his  regiment  won  for  France  the  important  forts  and 
Port  Mahon  and  for  himself  knighthood  in  the  exalted  order 
of  St.  Louis. 

The  next  year  (1757)  this  Achilles  marched  with  the  armies 
of  invasion  of  Germany,  and  began  by  wresting  with  his  gal 
lant  men  the  formidable  fortress  of  Reganstein  from  the 
powerful  forces  of  Prince  Ferdinand  of  Brunswick. 

In  the  events  of  the  next  year  he  was  at  the  fierce  carnage  of 
Crefeldt,  where  he  held  the  great  Prussian  warrior,  Frederick, 
at  bay  for  hours  by  a  maneuver  which  masked  his  inferiority  of 
numbers,  thus  avoiding  destruction  at  the  hands  of  that  hard 
hitting  royal  chieftain. 

At  Minden,  so  disastrous  to  French  arms,  he  at  least  came 
off  with  glory.  With  his  regiment  Auvergne,  of  which  he  was 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         305 

then  colonel,  another  of  the  valiant  commands  which  served 
under  him  in  the  war  of  the  States,  he  put  that  brave  German, 
lyUckner,  general  in  command,  in  chancery  by  forcing  him  in 
retreat  into  the  gorges  of  Sulmunster.  At  Kloster  Camp,  the 
field  of  frightful  carnage,  he  was  borne  out  of  the  fray  covered 
with  wounds. 

The  year  1761,  the  energies  of  war  decadent  through  impov 
erished  exchequers,  exhausted  bone  and  sinew,  and  depleted 
material,  found  the  spirit  of  ROCHAMBEAU  still  buoyant  and 
hopeful.  He  had  risen  to  mareschal  de  camp  (brigadier)  and 
inspector- general  of  cavalry.  In  the  throes  of  Tillinghausen 
he  commanded  the  right  wing  of  the  battle  front  of  France. 
When  the  blow  struck  and  the  lines  wavered  and  fled, 
ROCHAMBEAU  alone  moved  off  in  the  order  of  gala  parade, 
bidding  laughing  defiance  to  the  stalwart  grenadiers  of  the 
warrior  Hohenzollern,  whether  essaying  to  buckle  him,  break 
him,  or  intercept  him. 

Although  the  struggle  dragged  along  through  another  two 
years  the  approaching  end  was  evident.  ROCHAMBEAU,  an 
acting  figure  in  the  opening,  had  risen  to  protagonist  in  the 
closing  scenes. 

The  peace  proclaimed  formal  subsidence  of  the  storm  with 
out.  An  angered  feeling  of  humiliation  and  loss  of  American 
domain  were  the  portion  of  France. 

The  intervening  period  of  a  decade  and  a  half  adds  no  special 
feature  to  the  fame  of  ROCHAMBEAU  as  a  soldier.  It  was 
founded  on  a  rock  before  the  world,  strong  against  the  casual 
ties  of  time.  His  counsels  were  sought,  and  the  actions  of 
men  in  places  supreme  were  counted  as  sagacious  when  his 
advice  was  followed. 

When  the  "  alliance,"  so  proud  in  installation  and  barren  of 
results  under  D'Kstaing  essayed  this  second  effort,  the  soldier 
of  two  wars,  carrying  a  credit  of  thirty-eight  years  of  martial 
activity  in  fifty-five  years  of  strenuous  life,  elevated  to  the 
rank  of  lieutenant-general,  was  called  to  the  front. 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 20 


306  '      French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

RHODE    ISLAND   ASSEMBLY   CONVENED 

In  keeping  with  the  universal  enthusiasm  and  to  meet  the 
official  requirements  of  the  occasion  the  general  assembly  was 
called  together  July  17  by  Governor  William  Greene,  for  the 
purpose  of  preparing  suitable  addresses  of  welcome  to  the  French 
general  and  admiral,  and  making  arrangements  for  a  public  din 
ner  at  some  proper  time  to  all  the  French  officers;  to  assign  to  the 
use  of  the  allies  a  place  of  burial,  which  was  located  at  Papoo- 
squash  Point;  to  establish  a  court  of  admiralty;  to  apportion  the 
monthly  supplies  for  the  army  among  the  towns;  to  appoint  an 
agent  to  attend  a  convention  of  New  Hngland  States  at  Boston 
to  adopt  some  uniform  mode  of  furnishing  such  supplies,  and  to 
authorize  the  raising  of  a  regiment  of  630  militia  to  serve  for 
three  months  under  Washington  in  cooperating  with  the  French 
army. 

HOW   THE   FRENCH   WERE   RECEIVED 

In  a  letter  of  July  12  to  Washington,  General  Heath  gave 
particulars  of  the  arrival  of  the  French. 

On  the  morning  following  he  congratulated  the  Count  and 
the  Admiral.  The  inhabitants  received  the  strangers  with 
great  respect  and  voted  an  illumination  the  same  night.  Heath 
was  charmed  with  the  officers.  At  the  request  of  the  Count 
he  made  public  advertisements  for  "small  meats  and  vegeta 
bles,"  for  which  they  were  to  receive  hard  money  in  payment. 

The  people  being  unaccustomed  to  this  sort  of  dealing,  it  was 
thought  better  to  modify  the  announcement  for,  prudential 
reasons,  to  an  assurance  that  farmers  ' '  will  receive  a  handsome 
price. ' ' 

The  officers  expressed  the  highest  satisfaction  with  the  treat 
ment  they  received.  The  markets  were  very  good.  "In  short, ' ' 
wrote  Heath,  "  everything  appears  agreeable  and  satisfactory." 

LANDED  AND  READY  FOR  OPERATIONS 

In  less  than  a  week  after  their,  arrival  the  French  troops  were 
landed  and  encamped  in  a  fine  situation  southeast  of  the  town 
extending  nearly  across  the  island,  covering  Newport,  with 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         307 

the  left  flank  to  the  sea  and  right  reaching  to  the  anchorage 
of  the  fleet,  which  lay  under  the  protection  of  a  number  of 
batteries  erected  by  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  «at  eligible  sites  on  the 
shore.  These  batteries,  mounting  French  guns,  were  flanked 
by  outworks  thrown  up  where  the  enemy  was  likely  to  land. 
Trenches  were  also  dug,  from  which  the  enemy  might  be 
repulsed  should  he  attempt  to  put  a  force  ashore. 

ORGANIZATION    OF    FRENCH    AUXILIARIES 

The  general  staff  and  regimental  organization  of  the  French 
auxiliary  army,  as  it  was  constituted  upon  landing  at  New 
port,  R.  I.  (July  11-18,  1780),  ready  for  active  operations,  was 
as  follows: 

Commander  in  chief. — Comte  DK  ROCHAMBEAU,  lieutenant-general. 

Major-generals. — Baron  de  Viomenil,  Comte  de  Viomenil,  Chevalier  de 
Chastellux,  De  Choisy. 

Quartermaster-general. — De  Seville,  brigadier;  Louis  Alexander 
Berthier,  Caeser  Berthier. 

Intendant.—Dt  Tarle. 

Commissary-general. — Blanchard. 

Artillery. — D'Aboville,  commander  in  chief. 

Aids-de-Camp  to  Rochambeau. — MM.  de  Fersen,  De  Damas,  Charles 
de  Lameth,  De  Closen,  De  Dumas,  De  Lauberdieres,  De  Vaubah. 

Aids-de-Camp  to  M.  de  Viomenil. — MM.  de  Chabannes,  De  Pange", 
Charles  d'Olonne. 

Aids-de-Camp- to  M.  de  Chastellux. —MM.  de  Montesquieu,  Lyntch. 

Colonels. — Bourbonnais:  Marquis  de  Laval-Montmorencie,  Vicomte  de 
Rochambeau  en  second.  Royal  Deux-Ponts:  Comte  Christian  de  Deux- 
Ponts,  Comte  Guillaume  de  Deux-Ponts  en  second.  Saintonge:  Comte  de 
Custine,  Vicomte  de  Chartres  en  second.  Soissonnais:  M.  de  Saint-Mesme, 
Vicomte  de  Noailles  en  second. 

Lauzun's  Legion. — Duke  de  Lauzun,  Comte  Arthur  Dillon. 

Artillery. — M.  Nadal,  director  of  the  park;  Lazie,  major. 

Engineers. — MM.  Desandrouins,  commander;  Querenet,  Chevalier 
d'Ogre,  Carnvaque,  D'Opterre,  Turpin. 

Medical  Department. — MM.  Coste,  physician  in  chief;  Robillard, 
surgeon  in  chief;  Danre,  commissary;  Demars,  director  of  hospitals. 

Paymaster. — M.  Baulny. 

Staff. — MM.  Chevalier  de  Tarl£  and  De  Menonville,  major-general's 
aids;  MM.  De  BeViHe  .(fils)  and  Collot,  quartermaster-general's  aids. 


308         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

HEADQUARTERS 

The  headquarters  of  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  were  estab 
lished  at  302  New  Lane. 

Intendant's  office:  245  Thames  street. 

Quartermaster-general's  office:  290  Congress  street. 
x    Commissary-general's  office:  78  Thames  street. 

Navy  office:  608  Water  street. 

Naval  hospitals:  Presbyterian  Church,  295  New  Lane,  and 
Mrs.  Hopkins,  194  Mill  street. 

Naval  artillery  office:  Water  street  and  Roomer's  wharf. 

SENSATIONAL   JOURNALISM 

About  this  time  one  of  the  royalist  journals  had  this  to  say: 

The  French  Admiral  has  taken  possession  of  Rhode  Island  in  the  name 
of  the  King  of  France,  and  displayed  the  French  colors  without  the  least 
deference  to  the  flag  of  their  ally,  the  revolted  Americans.  This  affords 
disgust  and  mortification  to  the  rebels,  evincing  that  their  Roman  Catholic 
friends  intend  to  keep  possession  of  all  they  seize  on  in  North  America. 

The  French  colors  alluded  to  doubtless  were  a  distortion  of 
the  signals  of  the  French  fleur-de-lis,  concerted  by  Lafayette  at 
the  entrance  to  Narragansett  Bay  as  a  signal  to  the  arriving 
fleet  of  De  Ternay  and  convoy  of  ROCHAMBEAU''S  army. 

WASHINGTON'S  BASIS  OF  ACTION 

Upon  the  receipt  of  the  letter  and  instructions  of  Count 
DE  ROCHAMBEAU  announcing  his  arrival  with  his  army  at 
Newport,  the  commander  in  chief,  under  date  of  July  15,  again 
dispatched  Marquis  de  Lafayette  "to  communicate  the  fol 
lowing  general  ideas  to  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  and  Chevalier 
de  Ternay:" 

1.  In  any  operation,  and  under  all  circumstances,  a   decisive   naval 
superiority  is  to  be  considered  as  a  fundamental  principle  and  the  basis 
upon  which  every  hope  of  success  must  ultimately  depend. 

2.  The  advantages  of  possessing  the  port  of  New  York  by  the  squadron 
of   France  have  been  already  enumerated  to  Count   DE  ROCHAMBEAU 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         309 

and  Chevalier  de  Ternay,  and  are  so  obvious  as  not  to  need  recapitulation. 
A  delay  in  the  execution  of  this  enterprise  may  defeat  all  our  projects  and 
render  the  campaign  inactive  and  inglorious. 

3.  To  render  our  operations  nervous  and  rapid,  it  is  essential  for  us  to 
be  masters  of  the  navigation  of  the  North  River  and  of  the  Sound.     With 
out  this  our  land  transportation  will  be  great,  our  expenses  enormous, 
and  our  progress  slow,  if  not  precarious,  for  want  of  forage  and   other 
means. 

4.  With  these  ideas  and  upon  this  ground  it  is  conceived  that  many 
advantages  will  result  from  the  French  squadron's  taking  possession  of 
the  inner  harbor  between  Staten  Island  and  the  city  of  New  York,  and 
detaching  a  frigate  or  two  above  the  chevaux-de-frise  in  the  North  River 
opposite  to  Fort  Washington,  for  the  purpose  of  opening  the  navigation 
of  the  river,  shortening  the  transportation  by'land  on  the  upper  and  lower 
communication,  and  bringing  the  enemy  to  an  explanation   respecting 
Staten  Island.     Shipping  so  near  the  town  would,  at  the  same  time  they 
cover  the  frigates  in  the  North  River,  keep  the  garrison  in  check  and  be 
more  likely  to  facilitate  other  movements  of  the  army  than  if  they  were 
to  remain  at  the  Hook  or  below  the  Narrows. 

5.  Our  operations  against  the  enemy  in  the  city  of  New  York  may  com 
mence  from  either  of  three  points,  to  wit,   Morrisania,  the  height  near 
Kingsbridge,  or  Staten  Island.     Bach  has  its  advantages  and  disadvan 
tages,  but  under  a  full  view  of  all  circumstances  the  preponderancy  is 
in  favor  of   Morrisania,   especially  since  the  aid  of  his  Most  Christian 
Majesty  has  come  by  the  way  of  Rhode  Island  instead  of  Cape  Henry,  as 
it  was  expected  they  would  do,  and  touch  at  Sandy  Hook,  in  consequence 
of  advices  lodged  there. 

6.  As  the  means  for  carrying  on  our  operations  are  not  yet  sufficiently 
appreciated,  nor  is  the  time  by  which  our  aids  will   arrive   sufficiently 
ascertained,  it  is  impossible  to  be  precise  as  to  the  time  the  American 
troops  can  with  safety  rendezvous  at  Morrisania,  but,  as  it  is  necessary  to 
fix  some  epoch,  it  is  hoped  that  it  may  happen  by  the  5th  of  August.     I 
would  propose  that  day  for  the   reembarkation  of   the   French   efficient 
force  at  New  London  (if  they  should  have  come  there),  and  that  they 
proceed  up  the  Sound  to  Whitestone,  I,.  I.,  or  to  such  other  place  on  that 
island  or  on  the  main  as  circumstances  may  require  and  the  Count  shall 
be  advised  of.      For  the  operations  against  the  enemy  depending  very 
much  upon  their  holding  all  or  dismantling  some  of  their  present  posts, 
and  upon  contingencies  on  our  side,  it  is  not  possible  at  this  time  to 
mark  out  a  precise  plan*  or  determine  whether  our  approaches  to  the  city 
of  New  York  shall  be  by  the  way  of  York  Island,  Brooklyn,  or  both. 
Numbers  must  determine  the  latter  and  circumstances  of  the  moment  the 
former. 


310         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

7.  It  must  be  clearly  understood  and  agreed  between  the  parties,  that, 
if  any  capital  operation  is  undertaken,  the  French  fleet  and  land  forces 
will  at  all  events  continue  their  aid  until  the  success  of  the  enterprise  or 
until  it  is  mutually  determined  to  abandon  it. 

8.  In  all  matters  of  arrangement  and  accommodation,  not  repugnant  to 
the  foregoing  ideas,  the  Marquis,  in  behalf  of  the  United  States,  will  con 
sult  the  convenience  and  wishes  of  the  Count  and  Chevalier,  and  will  be 
pleased  to  assure  them  of  the  disposition  I  possess  to  make  everything  as 
agreeable  to  them  as  possible,  and  of  my  desire  to  manifest  on  all  occa 
sions  the  high  sense  I  entertain  of  their  merit,  and  the  generous  aid  they 
have  brought  to  us. 

The  chief  consideration  precedent  to  aggressive  movements 
was  the  superiority  of  the  French  fleet  in  American  seas  to 
enable  it  to  successfully  blockade  New  York  Harbor,  and  land 
troops  for  an  attack  on  the  city  in  cooperation  with  Wash 
ington's  forces  on  the  other  side. 

In  their  conference  ROCHAMBEAU  and  Lafayette  were  not 
long  in  arriving  at  the  decision  that  the  necessary  advantage  on 
the  water  could  not  be  had  until  the  arrival  of  the  second  divi 
sion  of  the  French  expedition. 

The  marquis  passed  a  few  days  among  his  countrymen  pro 
pounding  and  commenting  upon  the  views  of  his  chief,  and  in 
ascertaining  the  sentiments  of  the  French  commanders.  This 
mission  was  in  every  sense  a  successful  beginning  of  relations 
which  were  maintained  to  the  end  between  the  commander  in 
chief  of  the  French  and  the  commander  in  chief  of  the  com 
bined  forces  of  Continentals  and  allies. 

During  his  stay  at  the  headquarters  at  Newport  the  Marquis 
kept  General  Washington  apprised  of  what  passed  between  the 
Count  DK  ROCHAMBKAU,  the  Chevalier  de  Ternay,  and  himself, 

WASHINGTON — FELICITATIONS — ROCHAMBKAU 

From  headquarters  in  New  Jerse)^  July  16,  1780,  General 
Washington  sent  forward  to  Count  ROCHAMBKAU  a  more  formal 
expression  ( '  of  the  happiness ' '  he  felt  ' '  at  the  welcome  news  of 
your  arrival,  and  as  well  in  the  name  of  the  American  Army,  as 
in  my  own,  to  present  you  with  an  assurance  of  my  warmest 
sentiments  for  allies  who  have  so  generously  come  to  our  aid. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         311 

As  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  and  as  a  soldier  in  the  cause 
of  liberty "  he  "  thankfully  acknowledged  this  new  mark  of 
friendship  from  his  Most  Christian  Majesty,"  and  felt  "a  most 
grateful  sensibility  for  the  flattering  confidence  with  which  he 
has  been  pleased  to  honor  me." 

He  gave  suitable  expression  of  obligation  to  "your  prince 
as  to  the  choice  for  the  command  of  his  troops  of  a  gentleman 
whose  high  reputation  and  happy  union  of  social  qualities  and 
military  abilities  promise  me  every  public  advantage  and  private 
satisfaction."  He  begged  him  "to  be  the  interpreter  of  his 
sentiments  to  the  gentlemen  under  his  command." 

He  referred  to  Lafayette,  sent  to  him  with  such  intelligence 
as  it  was  essential  for  him  to  have,  "  as  a  general  officer  in  whom 
I  have  the  greatest  confidence  ;  as  a  friend  perfectly  acquainted 
with  my  sentiments  and  opinions,"  and  as  one  "who  knows  all 
the  circumstances  of  our  army  and  country  at  large  ;"  to  consider 
all  propositions  he  makes  as  ' '  coming  from  me. ' ' 

The  general  also  advised  the  Count  commandant  ' '  he  should 
exactly  conform  to  the  intentions  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty 
as  explained  in  the  papers  put  into  my  hands  by  his  orders,  and 
signed  by  his  ministers. ' ' 

In  the  meantime  Washington  kept  in  constant  communication 
with  DK  ROCHAMBKAU.  To  make  up  for  the  depletion  of  the 
French  ranks  by  sickness,  he  authorized  the  French  general  to 
call  out  the  militia  of  Boston  and  Rhode  Island. 

"This  call  furnished  about  5,000,"  said  ROCHAMBEAU,  in 
after  years,  ' '  good  and  willing  soldiers,  led  by  the  American 
General  Heath,  who  had  been  detached  by  General  Washington 
to  assist  the  French  in  their  operations. ' ' 

DK    ROCHAMBKAU    TO   VKRGKNNKS  — AN    INSIDK   VIKW 

In  a  letter  to  Count  de  Vergennes,  written  from  Newport  six 
days  after  his  arrival,  Count  DK  ROCHAMBKAU  gives  an  in 
tensely  interesting  contemporary  insight  into  the  spirit  of  the 
people  and  the  internal  condition  of  affairs  as  he  found  them: 

Upon  our  arrival  here  the  country  was  in  consternation;  the  paper  money 
had  fallen  to  60  for  i,  and  even  the  Government  takes  it  up  at  40  for  i. 


312         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

Washington  had  for  a  long  time  only  3,000  men  under  his  command. 
The  arrival  of  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette  and  the  announcement  of  succors 
from  France  afforded  some  encouragement;  but  the  Tories,  who  are  very 
numerous,  gave  out  that  it  was  only  a  temporary  assistance,  like  that  of 
Count  d'Bstaing.  In  describing  to  you  our  reception  at  this  place  we 
shall  show  you  the  feeling  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  continent.  This 
town  is  of  considerable  size,  and  contains,  like  the  rest,  both  Whigs  and 
Tories.  I  landed,  with  my  staff,  without  troops.  Nobody  appeared  in  the 
streets;  those  at  the  windows  looked  sad  and  depressed.  I  spoke  to  the 
principal  persons  of  the  place,  and  told  them,  as  I  write  to  General  Wash 
ington,  that  this  was  merely  the  advanced  guard  of  a  greater  force,  and 
that  the  King  was  determined  to  support  them  with  his  whole  power.  In 
twenty-four  hours  their  spirits  rose,  and  last  night  all  the  streets,  houses, 
and  steeples  were  illuminated,  in  the  midst  of  fireworks  and  the  greatest 
rejoicings.  I  am  now  here,  with  a  single  company  of  grenadiers,  until 
wood  and  straw  shall  have  been  collected.  My  camp  is  marked  out  and  I 
hope  to  have  the  troops  landed  to-morrow. 

You  see,  sir,  how  important  it  is  to  act  with  vigor.  The  Whigs  are 
pleased,  but  they  say  that  the  King  ought  to  have  sent  20,000  men  and  20 
ships  to  drive  the  enemy  from  New  York;  that  the  country  was  infallibly 
ruined;  that  it  is  impossible  to  find  a  recruit  to  send  to  General  Washing 
ton's  army  without  giving  him  100  hard  dollars  to  engage  for  six  months' 
service,  and  that  they  beseech  His  Majesty  to  assist  them  with  all  his 
strength.  The  war  will  be  an  expensive  one;  we  pay  even  for  our  quar 
ters  and  for  the  land  covered  by  the  camp.  I  shall  use  all  possible  order 
and  economy.  I  am  not  jealous  of  my  authority  in  matters  of  finance, 
and  I  have  appointed  a  council  of  administration,  composed  of  the  general 
officers,  the  intendant,  and  the  first  commissary  of  war,  which  I  shall  call 
together  every  fortnight  to  do  the  King's  business  in  the  best  possible 
manner.  We  shall  be  very  secure  here  in  winter  quarters  in  barracks. 
The  country  is  cold,  but  very  healthful.  We  can  easily  obtain  boards  and 
wood  from  the  interior.  The  land  and  naval  forces  here  united  afford  each 
other  a  mutual  support,  and  will  be  ready  to  act  offensively  as  soon  as  you 
will  enable  us  to  do  so.  The  harbor  froze  up  last  winter,  but  this  has  not 
happened  before  for  forty  years.  I  regard  it  as  impossible  to  go  for  win 
ter  quarters  to  the  Antilles.  It  would  be  necessary  to  take  there  at  once  a 
supply  of  provisions,  which  we  can  only  draw  from  day  to  day  from  the 
interior  of  the  country,  now  that  the  intercourse  and  confidence  between 
us  and  the  inhabitants  is  increasing  every  day.  There  is  also  the  risk  of  a 
long  and  troublesome  passage  with  a  convoy;  a  month  to  land  and  a  month 
to  reembark  the  troops  with  their  baggage  in  the  spring;  and,  for  a  deci 
sive  reason,  the  danger  that  in  our  absence  the  Bnglish  will  take  this  place, 
which  they  ought  not  to  have  abandoned. 

Send  us  troops,  ships,  and  money,  but  do  not  depend  upon  these  people 
nor  upon  their  means;  they  have  neither  money  nor  credit;  their  means 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America        313 

of  resistance  are  only  momentary,  and  called  forth  when  they  are  attacked 
in  their  own  homes.  They  then  assemble  for  the  moment  of  immediate 
danger  and  defend  themselves.  Washington  commands  sometimes  15,000, 
sometimes  3,000  men. 

The  correspondence  between  the  two  chiefs  at  this  time  was 
quite  spirited,  affording  them  an  opportunity  to  get  acquainted 
with  each  other's  views,  on  paper  at  least,  as  it  was  not  possible 
to  do  so  personally  then,  owing  to  the  sudden  dangers  to 
which  their  strategic  positions  were  exposed. 

On  July  1 8,  M.  de  Rochambeau,  son  of  the  lieutenant- 
general,  an  officer  on  his  staff,  arrived  at  headquarters  with  a 
letter,  to  which  Washington  replied  the  next  day,  referring  to 
the  "assurance  you  give  me  of  the  ulterior  intentions  of  his 
Most  Christian  Majesty"  which  "adds  to  our  obligations  and 
our  hopes. ' '  He  further  mentions  his  ' '  sensibility  for  the  marks 
of  confidence  and  for  the  assurance  of  the  .sentiments  contained ' ' 
and  should  ' '  be  har3py  in  seizing  every  opportunity  to  convince 
you  how  entirely  I  reciprocate  them." 

THE  BLACK  AND  WHITE  COCKADE 

As  a  mark  of  honor  to  the  allies,  General  Washington,  at 
his  camp  in  the  highlands  of  the  Hudson,  announced  in  general 
orders  the  arrival  of  the  French  allies  and  recommended  the 
officers  of  the  American  Army  to  wear  cockades  of  black  (as  the 
ground)  and  white  (as  the  relief)  as  a  symbol  of  alliance  and 
friendship  for  their  allies — the  American  cockade  at  the  time 
being  black,  the  French  white. 

GENERAL   GREENE   REPORTS 

On  the  same  day  the  general  informed  Major-General  Greene 
of  the  receipt  of  dispatches  from  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU, 
announcing  the  arrival  at  Newport  of  the  French  fleet  and 
army,  consisting  of  ships  of  the  line,  frigates,  and  boats,  and 
upward  of  5,000  men.  This  force  was  inferior  to  the  combined 
strength  of  Arbuthnot  and  Graves.  The  second  division  of  the 
French  fleet,  looked  for  in  a  few  weeks,  was  expected  to  make 
up  the  difference  and  give  their  combined  strength  superiority 


314         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

on  the  sea,  which  would  lessen  land  transportation  and  the 
difficulty  of  meeting  the  requisite  supply  of  provisions,  forage, 
and  military  stores  during  the  operations  against  New  York. 

NEWPORT   NOTES 

The  British  occupation  of  Newport,  which  lasted  from  Decem 
ber  6,  1776,  to  October  25,  1779,  had  greatly  impoverished  the 
town  in  the  matter  of  business  and  trade  and  the  country  around 
of  its  wealth  of  timber,  orchards,  and  fields. 

A  recently  discovered  journal,  ascribed  to  Baron  Cromot  du 
Bourg,  says: 

Rhode  Island  must  before  the  war  have  been  one  of  the  most  agreeable 
spots  in  the  world,  as,  in  spite  of  the  disasters  It  has  been  subjected  to, 
its  houses  destroyed,  and  all  its  woods  cut  down,  it  is  still  a  most  charming 
residence. 

A  contemporary  account  says:  0 

The  great  and  small  artillery  landed  by  our  generous  allies  and  disposed 
of  in  different  parts  of  this  town  and  island  exceed  anything  of  the  kind 
ever  seen  here.  They  have  brass  cannon  from  4  to  48  pounders  and  in 
great  plenty. 

In  less  than  a  fortnight  Newport  was  in  a  good  state  of  defense 
and  with  the  military  rallying  to  its  support  no  fears  were  felt. 

Another  contemporary  authority  draws  the  contrast  Between 
the  arrogance  of  the  British  and  the  courtly  elegance  of  the 
French  officers  in  these  terms: 

The  French  officers  of  every  rank  have  rendered  themselves  agreeable 
by  that  politeness  which  characterizes  the  French  nation  *  *  *  the 
officers  and  soldiers  wear  cockades  of  three  colors,  emblematic  of  a  triple 
alliance  between  France,  Spain,  and  America.  , 

This  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  use  of  the  tricolor.  At 
the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  French,  Newport  could  claim  6,000 
inhabitants,  and  the  people,  according  to  concurrent  authority, 
possessed  as  much  wealth,  energy,  enterprise,  intelligence,  and 
culture  as  any  other  town  in  America. 

The  Newport  correspondence  of  the  New  Jersey  Gazette, 
dated  August  2,  1780,  in  the  grandiloquent  style  of  the  times, 
wrote  of  the — 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America        315 

brilliant  appearance  of  the  numerous  gentlemen,  officers  of  the  fleet,  and 
army  of  our  illustrious  ally  who  were  ashore,  with  that  of  the  ladies  and 
gentlemen  of  the  town,  and  the  joy  which  every  friend  to  liberty  expressed 
on  the  happy  occasion,  affording  a  pleasing  prospect  of -the  future  felicity 
and  grandeur  of  this  country  in  alliance  with  the  most  polite,  powerful,  and 
generous  nation  in  the  world. 

BRITISH    COUNTER    PROJECTS 

General  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  commander  in  chief  of  the  British 
forces  in  America,  who  was  on  an  expedition  to  the  southern 
States,  hearing  of  the  presence  of  a  French  armament  on  the 
American  coast,  leaving  4,000  men  with  Cornwallis — the  Caro- 
linas  and  Georgia  being  apparently  " subjugated  " — hastened 
north  to  be  prepared  for  eventualities. 

The  fact  was,  his  convoy  from  the  south  had  been  wholly  in 
the  power  of  the  French  as  it  sailed  by  the  entrance  to  the 
Chesapeake,  and  only  escaped  destruction  on  account  of  De 
Ternay  taking  the  immense  transports  for  great  ships  of  the  line. 

CLINTON  BALKED  IN  HIS  OFFENSIVE  SCHEMES 

When  Clinton  arrived  at  New  York  his  first  plan  was  to 
attack  Washington  in  his  camp  on  the  Hudson  or  make  a  dash 
for  West  Point. 

In  this  design  he  was  frustrated  by  the  untimely  and  pro 
longed  absence  of  Knyphausen  with  his  Hessians  in  a  move 
in  New  Jersey,  which  amounted  to  nothing  except  to  upset  Sir 
Henry's  scheme  against  Washington. 

The  next  project  was  a  sudden  descent  upon  the  French  posi 
tion  at  Newport  and  an  attempt  to  carry  the  place  by  assault. 
Arbuthnot  was  directed,  even  in  advance  of  the  arrival  of 
ROCHAMBEAU,  to  have  troopships  for  6,000  men  ready  for  that 
purpose. 

The  French  arrived  off  Newport  on  the  loth  day  of  July.  It 
was  not  until  the  1 8th  that  particulars  of  their  position  were  con 
veyed  to  Arbuthnot,  who  was  urged  to  embark  without  further 
delay.  It  was  not,  however,  until  the  2yth  that  the  troops 
were  aboard  in  the  Sound  and  carried  to  Huntington  Bay  to 


316          French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

await  the  return  of  a  dispatch  vessel  sent  by- Clinton  to  the 
British  fleet  off  Newport. 

Admiral  Graves  made  sail  from  Portsmouth  about  the  same 
time  De  Ternay  left  Brest,  and  encountered  in  the  English  Chan 
nel  the  same  gales  which  made  such  boisterous  navigation  in 
the  Bay  of  Biscay.  Graves  put  back  and  lost  fifteen  days  wait 
ing  for  a  suitable  wind.  The  Englishman,  in  his  efforts  to  make 
up  lost  time  and  get  in  ahead  of  the  Frenchmen,  crowded  on  all 
sail.  He  succeeded  in  putting  into  New  York  July  13,  forty-eight 
hours  after  De  Ternay  made  Newport. 

Arbuthnot  had  four  large  vessels  of  war  in  port.  With  the 
accession  of  Graves,  1 1  vessels  would  have  been  available  to 
head  off  De  Ternay  had  he  delayed  to  engage  the  enemy  he  had 
sighted  on  his  voyage. 

ASSEMBLY    COURTESIES 

On  Sunday  July  2 1 ,  the  committee  of  the  general  assembly  of 
Rhode  Island  waited  upon  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  and  pre 
sented  their  address  couched  in  the  following  language: 

The  representatives  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  and  the  Providence 
Plantations,  in  general  assembly  convened,  with  the  most  pleasing  satisfac 
tion  take  the  earliest  opportunity  of  congratulating  the  Comte  DE  RO 
CHAMBEAU,  lieutenant-general  of  the  Army  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty, 
upon  his  safe  arrival  within  the  United  States.  Upon  this  occasion  we 
can  not  be  too  expressive  of  the  grateful  sense  we  entertain  of  the  generous 
and  magnanimous  aid  afforded  to  the  United  States  by  their  illustrious 
friend  and  ally.  Sufficient  had  been  the  proofs  of  his  zeal  and  friendship, 
the  present  instance  must  constrain  even  envious,  disappointed  Britons  to 
venerate  the  wisdom  of  his  councils  and  the  sincerity  of  his  noble  mind. 
We  look  forward  with  a  most  pleasing  expectation  to  the  end  of  a  campaign 
in  which  the  allied  forces  of  France  and  the  United  States  under  the  smiles 
of  Divine  Providence  may  be  productive  of  peace  and  happiness  to  the  con 
tending  powers  and  mankind  in  general.  We  assure  you,  sir,  our  expecta 
tions  are  enlarged  when  we  consider  the  wisdom  of  His  Most  Christian 
Majesty  in  your  appointment  as  the  commander  of  his  army  destined  to 
our  assistance.  Be  assured,  sir,  of  every  exertion  in  the  power  of  this 
State  to  afford  the  necessary  refreshments  to  the  army  under  your  com 
mand  and  to  render  this  service  to  all  ranks  as  agreeable  and  happy  as  it 
is  honorable. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America        317 

We  are,  on  behalf  of  the  general  assembly,  the  general's  most  obedient 
and  most  devoted,  humble  servants, 

WIWJAM  GREENE. 

WH.IJAM  BRADFORD. 
To  Lieutenant-General  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU. 

A  similar  address  was  handed  to  Admiral  de  Ternay  as  follows: 

The  representatives  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plan 
tations  in  general  assembly  convened,  with  the  most  pleasing  satisfaction 
take  this  the  earliest  opportunity  of  testifying  the  sentiments  that  are 
impressed  upon  them  by  the  great  attention  which  His  Most  Christian 
Majesty  has  invariably  manifested  to  the  United  States.  The  formidable 
armament  heretofore  sent  to  our  aid  has  essentially  promoted  our  happi 
ness  and  independence.  But  at  a  time  when  Europe  is  involved  in  the 
calamities  of  war,  by  the  ambitous  views  of  the  British  court,  we  can  not 
express  the  gratitude  we  feel  upon  your  arrival  with  the  fleet  under  your 
command,  destined  by  our  illustrious  ally  to  the  assistance  of  the  United 
States.  We  entreat  you,  on  this  occasion,  to  accept  the  warmest  con 
gratulations  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations; 
and  be  assured,  sir,  of  every  exertion  in  their  power  to  afford  the  necessary 
refreshments  to  the  fleet  and  to  render  the  service  as  agreeable  and  happy 
as  it  is  honorable. 

We  are,  in  behalf  of  the  general  assembly,  the  Admiral's  most  obedient 
and  most  humble  servants, 

Wii^iviAM  GREENE. 
WIU,IAM  BRADFORD. 
To  Chevalier  DE  TERNAY. 

CEREMONIAL   REPLIES 

To  this  official  expression  of  welcome  and  support  General 
DE  ROCHAMBEAU  replied  on  the  same  day  in  the  following  terms: 

To  the  honorable  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  and 

Providence  Plantations. 

GENTLEMEN:  The  King,  my  master,  hath  sent  me  to  the  assistance  of 
his  good  and  faithful  allies,  the  United  States  of  America.  At  present  I 
only  bring  over  the  vanguard  of  a  much  greater  force  destined  for  their 
aid,  and  the  King  has  ordered  me  to  assure  them  that  his  whole  power 
shall  be  exerted  for  their  support. 

The  French  troops  are  under  the  strictest  discipline,  and  acting  under 
the  orders  of  General  Washington  will  live  with  the  Americans  as  their 
brethren,  and  nothing  will  afford  me  greater  happiness  than  contributing 
to  their  success.  I  am  highly  sensible  of  the  marks  of  respect  shown  me 
by  the  general  assembly,  and  beg  leave  to  assure  them  that  as  brethren 


318         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

not  only  my  life,  but  the  lives  of  the  troops  under  my  command  are  en 
tirely  devoted  to  their  service. 

THE   COMTE   DE   ROCHAMBEAU. 

The  reply  of  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  was  in  many  ways 
worthy  of  the  officer  and  man.  Speaking  by  authority  of  his 
King,  his  words  spread  throughout  the  country  with  assuring 
effect.  The  fear  of  a  foreign  army  on  American  soil  after  the 
experience  of  history  in  similar  instances  of,  succor  was  at 
once  relieved.  His  particular  declaration  of  the  disinterested 
motives  of  the  French  monarch  and  the  subordination  of 
himself  and  his  army  to  the  supreme  command  of  the  American 
commander  in  chief  disposed  of  the  alarming  stories  set  adrift 
by  British  emissaries  and  press. 

The  reply  of  De  Ternay,  equally  quieting  to  the  public  mind, 
was  not  as  prompt,  owing  to  circumstances  over  which  he  had 
no  control.  The  text  of  this  interesting  paper,  however,  may 
be  given  here: 

To  the  honorable  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  and 

Providence  Plantations: 

The  multiplicity  of  business  in  which  I  have  for  some  days  been 
involved  has  hitherto  prevented  my  honoring  in  due  form  an  address 
from  the  honorable  the  general  assembly  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island, 
etc.  I  have  already  assured  them  how  sensible  I  am  of  their  politeness, 
in  a  visit  to  my  ship,  to  give  me  an  assurance  of  their  granting  every 
necessary  supply  for  the  squadron  and  fleet  of  the  King  of  France  during 
their  continuance  in  this  State. 

I,  with  pleasure,  embrace  this  opportunity  of  testifying  to  the  honorable 
assembly  my  peculiar  satisfaction  in  an  appointment  by  the  King,  my 
master,  to  conduct  succors  to  his  allies,  who  have  for  several  years  been 
successfully  contending  to  establish  an  independence,  which  will  be  the 
basis  of  their  future  felicity. 

I  have  nothing  further  to  aspire  after  than  the  hour  when  I  shall  partici 
pate  with  the  United  States  in  the  glorious  advantages  resulting  from  war 
with  enemies  who  vainly  attempt  to  subjugate  them  and  wrest  from  them 
that  freedom  the  blessings  of  which  they  already  experience. 

I  beg  the  honorable  assembly  would  be  persuaded  that  I  am  penetrated 
with  the  warmest  attachment  to  every  member  of  which  that  body  is 
composed. 

THE  CHEVAUER  DE  TERNAY, 
Commandant  of  the  Naval  Forces 
of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty  at  Newport. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America        319 

ATTEMPTED    BLOCKADE 

As  the  British  naval  force  now  outnumbered  the  French, 
Graves  proposed  a  blockade  of  Narragansett  Bay.  On  July  19 
the  British  advance  of  four  frigates  appeared,  making  Block 
Island  the  point  of  rendezvous. 

The  following  day  three  of  the  French  put  to  sea,  intending 
to  engage  the  enemy,  but,  falling  in  with  a  reenforcetnent, 
headed  back  to  the  harbor. 

On  the  afternoon  of  July  21,  at  the  moment  the  committee  of 
the  assembly  delivered  their  addresses,  the  British  admirals, 
Graves  and  Arbuthnot,  appeared  off  the  harbor  with  a  fleet  of 
ii  vessels — one  of  90,  six  of  74,  three  of  64,  and  one  of  50 
guns.  The  day  following  the  menacing  fleet  was  increased  to 
19,  9  being  line-of -battle  ships. 

The  French  held  their  anchorage,  their  decks  cleared  for 
action,  occupying  a  line  from  Rhode  Island  to  Goat  Island 
Harbor. 

Clinton,  having  returned  to  New  York  from  his  southern 
expedition,  began  organizing  a  formidable  land  force  under  his 
personal  command,  intending  to  attack  the  French  before  they 
could  effectively  establish  a  defensive  basis. 

General  Heath,  in  order  to  be  prepared  to  cooperate  with  the 
allies  promptly  applied  to  Rhode  Island,  Massachusetts,  and 
Connecticut  to  call  out  the  militia.  Those  of  Rhode  Island, 
under  General  Varnum,  being  nearest  at  hand,  responded  first. 
The-  rally  of  the  fighting  men  of  these  States  was  so  prompt 
that  before  Clinton  could  get  himself  in  shape  for  offensive 
tactics  he  found  ready  to  confront  him  a  larger  force,  including 
the  French,  than  he  could  possibly  bring  into  the  field. 

PREPARING    FOR   DEFENSE 

To  resist  a  land  attack  General  Heath  established  a  regiment 
of  Continental  troops  at  Howlands  and  Bristol  ferries  at  the 
mouth  of  Pocasset  River  and  Butts  Hill  to  command  the  west 
ern  approaches.  The  governor  of  Rhode  Island  was  asked  for 
1,500  militia.  A  similar  requisition  was  made  for  800  from 


320         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

Massachusetts  for  immediate  service.  All  the  militia  which 
had  been  detached  to  serve  for  three  months  in  the  main  army, 
except  those  in  Hampshire  and  Berkshire,  it  was  urged  should 
be  ordered  to  Newport.  Governor  Trumbull  was  also  asked 
for  1,000  militia  from  Connecticut. 

With  this  additional  force  the  Count  considered  himself  able 
to  repel  an  attack. 

With  his  own  troops,  Washington,  for  diversion  or  attack, 
according  to  circumstances,  was  prepared  to  move  from  his 
position  in  the  Highlands  toward  Kings  Bridge. 

A   DECISIVE   MOMENT 

On  July  22  Washington,  in  a  letter  to  an  influential  friend, 
expressed  his  views  of  the  duty  of  the  moment  very  frankly, 
observing: 

This  is  a  decisive  moment  and  I  will  go  further  and  say  the  most  impor 
tant  America  has  seen.  The  Court  of  France  has  made  a  glorious  effort 
for  our  deliverance  and  if  we  disappoint  its  intentions  by  our  supineness 
we  must  become  contemptible  in  the  eyes  of  all  mankind. 

TORY   CROAKINGS 

It  is  diverting  to  read  Rivington's  ribald  Royal  Gazette,  the 
extreme  Tory  organ  of  the  day,  on  these  ominous  happenings. 
Taking  a  week  after  the  landing  of  the  French  as  a  specimen 
of  eighteenth  century  sensational  journalism,  the  following  is 
not  behind  current  specimens.  It  says: 

*  *  •  *  from  the  Marquis  de  I^afayette's  report  to  Mr.  Washington 
the  Chevalier  de  Ternay  may  be  expected  at  this  time  to  land  a  body  of 
troops  on  this  continent;  in  which  case  possession  of  the  land  would  be 
taken  In  the  name  of  the  French  King,  *  *  .  The  prospect  of  a 
French  army  landing  in  the  northern  provinces  alarms  the  republican  fra 
ternity  in  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts.  Should  their  Roman  Catholic 
allies  ever  nestle  themselves  on  one  of  the  revolted  States,  it  is  appre 
hended  their  independence  must  give  way  to  the  establishment  of  a  French 
Government,  laws,  customs,  etc.,  ever  abhorent  to  the  sour  and  turbulent 
temper  of  a  Puritan. 

As  a  sample  of  newspaper  irresponsibility,  this  same  British 
sympathizer  in  print  is  a  curiosity.  The  day  of  the  issue  of  the 
above  screed  the  arrival  of  the  French  is  treated  as  an  event  yet 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America        321 

in  the  future,  when  the  same  had  already  happened  five  days 
before,  and  it  was  not  until  two  days  later  that  Clinton  himself 
learned  that  De  Ternay  had  made  a  safe  harbor  for  his  convoy 
of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  his  army. 

IN   DESPERATE   STRAITS 

The  desperate  straits  of  Washington  at  this  time  were  in 
stanced  by  an  appeal  to  Marquis  de  Lafayette  to  secure  arms 
and  powder  from  the  Count,  without  which  "  we  certainly  can 
attempt  nothing. "  ' '  With  every  effort, ' '  he  conceded,  '  *  we 
shall  fall  short  at  least  4,000  or  5,000  arms  and  200  tons  of 
powder. ' ' 

DE  TERNAY  WILL  NOT  ATTEMPT  NEW  YORK  HARBOR 

Upon  investigation  of  the  conditions,  Chevalier  de  Ternay 
put  an  end  to  the  proposed  immediate  attempt  on  New  York 
harbor  by  calling  attention  to  the  experience  of  D'Estaing, 
concluding  it  not  possible  to  sustain  the  fleet  at  Long  Island 
without  entering  the  Hook  to  do  so,  but  declared  his  purpose 
to  attack  the  English  squadron  at  sea  should  it  attempt  to 
oppose  the  passage  of  troops. 

The  commander  in  chief,  prompting  his  army  upon  the  arrival 
of  the  cooperating  force  from  France,  of  ' '  the  generosity  of 
this  succor  and  the  manner  in  which  it  is  given,"  as  "a  new 
tie  between  France  and  America, ' '  urged  ' '  the  only  contention 
between  them  must  be  to  excel  each  other  in  good  offices  and 
the  display  of  every  virtue. ' ' 

A   MEETING   DELAYED 

The  military  situation  was  such  that  it  was  not  possible  for 
Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU  to  meet  at  the  time,  although 
the  latter  had  expressed  such  a  wish  and  the  former,  in  a  letter 
to  Lafayette,  said  he  desired  nothing  more  ardently,  but  his 
presence  where  he  was  was  ' '  essential  to  keep  our  preparations 
in  activity  or  even  going  on  at  all." 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 21 


322         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

The  general  evidently  felt  deeply  concerned,  "entreating" 
the  marquis  ' '  to  impress  the  Count  with  a  proper  idea  of  the 
matter  and  convince  him  with  what  pleasure  I  should  hasten 
to  meet  him,  if  it  would  not  be  injurious  to  our  affairs." 

At  the  same  time  the  general  repeated  his  conviction  of  the 
inadvisability  of  attempting  the  taking  of  New  York  as  part  of 
the  programme  for  the  allies  on  account  of  the  difficulties. 

THE  DIE  is  CAST 

In  a  letter  to  the  President  of  Congress  July  22,  1780, 
Washington  gave  his  opinion  rather  tartly  on  what  the  com 
mittee  had  communicated  to  him  as  to  their  views.  He  coin 
cides  in  these  in  general,  observing  he  had  sent  definite 
proposals  of  cooperation  to  the  French  general  and  admiral 
that  ' '  neither  the  reason  nor  regard  to  decency  would  permit 
delay."  "  The  die  is  cast,"  said  he,  "  and  it  remains  with  the 
States  either  to  fulfill  their  engagements,  preserve  their  credit, 
and  support  their  independence,  or  involve  us  in  disgrace  and 
defeat,"  adding — 

1 '  Notwithstanding  the  failures  pointed  out  by  the  committee, 
I  shall  proceed  on- the  supposition  that  they  will  ultimately  con 
sult  their  own  interest  and  honor  and  not  suffer  us  to  fail  for 
want  of  means  which  it  is  evidently  in  their  power  to  afford." 
*  *  *  *  * 

"  If  we  fail  for  want  of  proper  exertions  in  any  of  the  gov 
ernments,  I  trust  the  responsibility  will  fall  where  it  ought, 
and  that  I  shall  stand  justified  to  Congress,  to  my  country,  and 
to  the  world.  *  *  *  Congress  are  sensible  that  I  have 
made  it  a  rule  to  speak  with  the  most  scrupulous  delicacy  of  the 
measures  of  the  States,  generally  or  particularly  *  *  *  the 
plainness  of  my  present  remarks  is  dictated  by  a  sense  of  duty, 
by  the  importance  of  the  conjuncture,  and  by  the  necessity  of 
giving  them  a  just  view  of  our  situation.  *  *  *  It  will 
become  inadvisable  to  exert  powers  which,  if  they  have  no 
sanction,  may  be  very  disagreeable  to  the  people  and  produc 
tive  of  discontents  and  oppositions  which  will  be  infinitely 
injurious." 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         323 

REGRETS 

Toward  the  end  of  July,  1780,  acknowledging  a  letter  from 
the  Marquis,  from  Hartford,  the  chief  again  regrets  the  inabil 
ity  of  his  forces  to  take  New  York  and  praises  his  zeal.  The 
States  were  slow  in  furnishing  arms,  and  the  levies  were  even 
slower  than  he  expected. 

In  the  event  of  Clinton  moving  in  force  to  Rhode  Island,  he 
thought  he  might  embarrass  him  and  precipitate  his  own 
movements,  but  the  capture  of  the  city  would  be  impossible, 
for  the  lack  of  men  and  arms  to  accomplish  that  end. 

On  his  way  to  Newport  the  marquis  had  interviews  with 
Governor  Trumbull,  General  Parsons,  and  others  of  Connecti 
cut,  in  his  efforts  to  arouse  them  to  forward  the  State  quota  of 
troops  and  such  arms  and  ammunition  as  could  be  spared. 

In  the  midst  of  these  complications  a  most  disagreeable 
crisis  was  reached  in  the  quartermaster-general's  department, 
owing  to  the  resignation  of  General  Greene  and  other  officers. 

The  chief,  in  a  letter  to  Congress,  referred  to  the  result  as 
a  total  stagnation  of  military  business  and  the  necessity  of 
not  only  ceasing  from  the  preparations  for  the  campaign, 
but  in  all  probability  being  obliged  to  disperse  if  not  disband 
the  army. 

DEFENSIVE   MEASURES 

On  July  21  Marquis  de  Lafayette  reached  Newport  as  the 
personal  representative  of  General  Washington,  to  render  such 
aid  as  lay  in  his  power.  Intelligence  from  New  York  set  forth 
that  Sir  Henry  Clinton  was  proceeding  at  the  head  of  the  greater 
part  of  his  army  to  engage  the  French. 

The  acquaintance  of  L,afayette  with  all  the  surrounding 
country,  having  served  there  at  the  time  of  the  Sullivan  expe 
dition  during  the  presence  of  D'Estaing,  cooperated  with 
ROCHAMBEAU  in  the  preparation  of  a  plan  of  defense,-  which 
included  the  abandonment  of  Conanicut  Island  and  concentra 
tion  on  Rhode  Island. 


324         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

The  transports  were  to  be  withdrawn  within  the  harbor  and 
the  war  ships  were  to  be  anchored  from  Brentons  Point  north 
ward  under  cover  of  the  shore  batteries.  A  frigate  and  cutter 
were  to  be  posted  in  Seaconnet  Passage.  The  troops  were  to 
remain  in  their  camp  prepared  to  meet  the  enemy  at  any  point 
he  might  attempt  to  land. 

The  second  lines  were  those  formerly  established  by  the 
British,  which  were  to  be  occupied  by  the  militia,  where  it  was 
proposed  to  make  the  main  defense  if  necessary. 

In  order  to  be  near  at  hand  for  purposes  of  cooperation,  Gen 
eral  Washington  advanced  a  force  of  Continentals  toward  the 
North  River. 

The  Count,  through  the  Marquis,  urged  the  relief  of  the 
Continentals  if  the  enemy  should  not  arrive  within  twelve 
days.  He  was  prepared,  however,  to  meet  an  assault,  but  a 
siege  would  be  greatly  benefited  by  the  appearance  of  a  corps 
of  Continentals  in  the  enemy's  rear. 

WASHINGTON    READY   TO   MOVE 

During  the  intercourse  between  the  Marquis  and  -the  French, 
Washington  kept  General  Heath  constantly  advised.  He 
established  relays  of  expresses  for  that  purpose  between  the 
two  armies. 

From  Robinsons,  July  31,  1780,  he  notified  him,  upon  receipt 
of  information  that  the  enemy's  transports  had  sailed  eastward, 
he  would  put  his  own  army  in  motion  with  a  view  to  advancing 
as  rapidly  as  possible  toward  Kings  Bridge,  which  would  force 
the  abandonment  of  the  British  project  against  Rhode  Island 
or  afford  an  excellent  opportunity  to  strike  a  fatal  blow  at  the 
depleted  garrison  of  New  York. 

BRITISH   EMBARKING 

*t  he  joint  operation  of  the  British  land  and  sea  forces  against 
the  French  began  July  27,  by  the  embarkation  of  6,000  troops 
at  Frogs  Neck,  but  the  preparations  of  ROCHAMBEAU  to  greet 
them  with  a  warm  reception  and  Washington's  rapid  movement 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         325 

against  New  York  gave  the  scheme  an  appearance  of  risk  which 
Clinton  was  not  willing  to  meet.  After  considerable  bickering 
between  himself  and  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  the  enterprise  was 
abandoned.  The  British  transports  accordingly  crossed  the 
sound  to  Huntington  Bay,  and  on  July  31  disembarked  at 
Whitestone.  Arbuthnot,  however,  remained  off  Newport,  main 
taining  a  blockade  and  hoping  to  intercept  the  second  division 
of  the  allied  force,  then  expected  from  France.  The  militia, 
except  those  enlisted  for  three  months,  which  had  rallied  to  the 
support  of  ROCHAMBEAU,  were  dismissed.  Under  the  impres 
sion  Clinton  had  actually  started  to  attack  the  "armament 
from  France,"  Washington  addressed  Governor  Livingston, 
showing  the  impracticability  of  giving  direct  assistance  to  New 
York. 

He  informed  him  the  whole  of  the  Continental  troops  were  in 
motion  and  entreated  him  to  order  his  State  regiment  and 
the  militia  called  for  by  the  committee  of  Congress  to  march  to 
Dobbs  Ferry,  subject  to  the  commander  in  chief's  direction. 
He  also  asked  the  whole  of  the  militia  to  be  held  in  readiness  to 
march  in  case  of  orders.  On  the  same  day,  August  i,  the  chief 
sent  a  similar  communication  to  the  governor  of  New  Jersey 
requesting  the  New  Jersey  militia  to  be  held  in  readiness  to 
move,  adding  '  'should  this  be  the  case  I  shall  be  happy  to  see 
you  at  their  head." 

On  the  same  day  (August  i),  also  from  Peekskill,  he  informed 
the  Marquis  of  being  on  his  way  to  New  York,  and  of  the 
whole  army  intending  to  take  up  its  line  of  march  the  next 
day,  when  advices  from  the  Sound  as  recent  as  the  day  before 
announced  the  enemy's  transports  putting  back  and  steering 
westward. 

In  a  letter  to  L,ord  Germaine  after  this  fiasco  General  Clinton 
gave  up  any  idea  of  attempting  an  attack  on  the  allied  armies. 

The  active  operations  of  Washington  were  seriously  embar 
rassed  for  want  of  arms,  ammunition,  and  clothing  required 
for  recruits.  In  the  matter  of  powder  he  expressed  his  de- 
pendance  on  50  tons  from  France,  and  the  same  amount  from 
the  fleet. 


326         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

MINDFUL   OF   THE   VIEWS   OF    HIS   AUJES 

He  was  at  all  times  studiously  mindful  of  not  pressing  the 
French  commanders  to  anything  toward  which  they  showed  a 
disinclination,  particularly  in  regard  to  the  withdrawal  of  their 
force  from  Rhode  Island  before  the  arrival  of  the  second  divi 
sion,  in  order  "to  avoid  responsibility  for  any  untoward  hap 
penings.  ' '  His  policy,  and  so  he  informed  Lafayette,  was  to 
set  forth  "  what  we  can  do,  what  we  are  willing  to  undertake, 
and  let  them  consult  their  own  inclination  for  the  rest." 

The  attack  on  New  York  was  held  in  abeyance,  in  expectation 
of  the  arrival  of  part  of  the  French  West  India  fleet  or  the  ar 
rival  of  the  second  division.  In  event  of  their  nonarrival  by 
September  he  had  no  great  hope  of  success. 

OFFENSIVE   TACTICS   DEFERRED 

,  With  respect  to  offensive  tactics  on  the  part  of  the  French, 
DE  ROCHAMBEAU  and  De  Ternay  judged  it  prudent  to  defer 
them  for  the  present  for  three  reasons:  First,  the  arrival  of  the 
second  division;  second,  the  sailing  from  France  of  an  additional 
fleet  to  their  assistance,  which  De  Ternay  had  required  of  M.  de 
Guichen  by  virtue  of  his  powers;  third,  the  enemy,  by  directing 
their  forces  to  the  south,  would  so  lessen  the  efficiency  of  the 
garrison  of  New  York  that  the  fleet  would  have  no  molestation 
to  guard  against  from  that  quarter,  in  which  event  they  might 
vigorously  attack  that  position. 

WASHINGTON'S  POWERS  EXTENDED  BEYOND  THE  STATES 

The  presence  of  the  French  troops  brought  new  issues  to  the 
front.  The  powers  of  the  commander  in  chief  wrere,  up  to  this 
time,  confined  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States.  It  was 
found  necessary  to  lift  this  limitation  in  order  to  effectively 
cooperate  with  the  French  forces.  Congress,  on  August  2, 
removed  the  restrictions  by  resolution.  New  Hampshire,  Mas 
sachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Delaware, 
and  Virginia  delegations  stood  unanimously  in  the  affirmative. 
Maryland  and  the  Carolinas  were  the  same  in  the  negative,  and 
Georgia  was  divided.  Connecticut  and  Pennsylvania  cast  one 


French  Army  and  Navy,  in  America         327 

negative  vote  each — the  majority  of  both  delegations,  however, 
were  in  the  affirmative. 

The  attitude  of  powerful  influences  is  sometimes  unaccount 
able,  especially  the  action  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  in 
opposing  a  resolution  designed  to  enable  the  commander  in 
chief  to  infuse  greater  activity  into  operations,  in  combination 
with  the  French  and  the  Spanish  in  the  West  Indies,  with  a 
view  to  driving  the  British  away  from  those  very  two  States. 

On  August  3,  from  Peekskill,  Washington  directed  General 
Heath  respecting  the  prompt  return  of  the  militia  to  their  homes, 
in  view  of  the  scarcity  of  provisions.  These  reenforcements  of 
the  people  from  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts  had  responded 
with  an  alacrity  which  won  the  admiration  of  the  allies. 

As  soon  as  the  abandonment  of  the  British  expedition  had 
become  known,  it  was  arranged  between  General  Heath  and 
Count  DK  ROCHAMBKAU  that  the  militia  should  be  disbanded, 
except  3, 500  enlisted  for  three  months.  Of  the  number  retained, 
2,000  were  posted  between  Quaker  Hill  and  the  town  and 
about  1,500  at  Butts  Hill. 

In  all  these  matters  of  detail  General  Washington  displayed 
the  utmost  regard  for  the  wishes  of  the  French  general,  in 
view  of  which  he  gave  specific  orders  to  the  American  com 
mander  to  do  nothing  without  "consulting  the  Count  and 
obtaining  his  approbation  of  the  measure. ' ' 

In  addition  to  the  cares  and  perplexities  of  his  own  army, 
General  Washington  gave  scrupulously  mindful  attention  to 
the  presence,  necessities,  and  participation  of  the  allies. 

He  was  disappointed  at  the  aversion  of  Chevalier  de  Ternay 
to  entering  New  York  Harbor  should  conditions  render  such  a 
movement  practicable,  and  without  which  it  would  not  be  pos 
sible  to  interrupt  supplies  and  blockade  the  enemy. 

He  was  willing,  however,  to  take  the  chances  of  a  siege  if 
his  allies  preferred.  The  entire  scheme,  however,  was  depend 
ent  upon  additional  succor  from  France  and  the  West  Indies. 
If  this  should  not  appear,  the  chief  was  urgent  to  dispense  with 
the  militia,  the  feeding  of  whom  without  being  able  to  assume 
active  operations  he  deemed  inadvisable  "on  every  account." 


328         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

COMPLIMENTS  FOR  LAFAYETTE 

The  conduct  of  Lafayette  in  his  intercourse  with  the  French 
gave  great  satisfaction  to  Washington,  and  particularly  to  his 
own  countrymen.  In  the  language  of  Washington  himself,  '  'the 
alliance  ought  to  be  cemented  in  affection,  and  you  will  be 
justly  dear  to  both  countries  for  the  share  you  have  in  binding 
it  by  those  powerful  and  pleasing  ties." 

APPLAUDS   ROCHAMBEAU 

From  his  headquarters  at  Peekskill,  on  August  5,  1780, 
Washington  wrote  the  Count:  "I  applaud  all  the  measures  you 
have  taken,  which  appear  to  me  precisely  such  as  the  occasion 
required."  He  was  also  greatly  pleased  to  know  that  the 
neighboring  States  ' '  manifested  so  much  ardor  in  doing  what 
their  interest,  their  duty,  and  their  gratitude  demanded." 

He  also  approved  the  detention  of  the  levies  ' '  as  long  as  you 
think  they  can  be  useful  to  }rou. ' ' 

In  referring  to  Clinton's  retrograde  movements  of  July  31, 
he  mentioned  the  landing  of  the  British  on  Long  Island  and 
little  or  no  probability  of  their  renewal  of  purpose  to  attack. 

He  mentioned  the  recrossing  of  the  Hudson  by  his  own  army 
and  their  march  to  Dobbs  Ferry,  about  10  miles  from  Kings 
Bridge,  where  he  would  establish  a  communication  which  would 
save  much  land  transportation  in  event  of  New  York  being  the 
object  of  attack. 

The  general  also  inclosed  a  copy  of  a  letter  to  the  Chevalier 
de  la  Luzerne,  in  which  he  expressed  his  views  and  those  of 
Chevalier  de  Ternay  respecting  the  second  division,  with  a  plan 
for  a  junction  of  the  fleets  as  suggested  in  his  own  letter. 

CRUISING   IN   SEARCH    OF   A   PHANTOM 

The  French  minister  at  Philadelphia  sent  out  fast  sailing 
cruisers  from  all  parts  of  the  coast  vainly  expecting  some  of 
them  to  fall  in  with  the  much  desired  French  division. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         329 

JUNCTION    OF    FRKNCH    AND    CONTINENTAL    FRIGATES 

On  August  6,  the  general  advised  De  Ternay  of  the  direction 
by  Congress  of  a  junction  of  the  Continental  frigates  with  the 
French.  For  this  purpose  they  had  been  placed  under  Wash 
ington's  orders,  with  directions  to  rendezvous  in  the  Delaware 
and  thence  proceed  to  Newport.  To  facilitate  matters  Wash 
ington  asked  the  French  admiral's  advice  as  to  how  they  might 
be  employed  usefully  by  the  fleet  and  to  send  him  signals  of 
recognizance  for  them.  He  also  requested  them  to  be  fur 
nished  to  the  captains  of  the  frigates  in  Boston  Harbor,  if  still 
there. 

HONORS    FOR   THE   MIUTlA 

I 

To  General  Heath,  two  days  later,  Washington  wrote:  "I  am 
exceedingly  happy  at  the  conduct  of  the  militia  in  turning  out 
with  so  much  spirit.  It  does  them  great  honor."  He  also 
refers  to  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  expressing  himself  as  * ' '  highly 
pleased  with  them, '  and  in  such  terms  as  have  given  me  much 
satisfaction.  Gratitude,  interest,  and  policy  combined  in  the 
strongest  manner  lead  us  to  give  him  the  earliest  and  most  effec 
tual  support."  General  Heath  reported:  "  At  no  time  did  the 
militia  observe  more  order  in  pressing  to  the  field  or  more  regu 
larity  when  they  got  there." 

A    DISAPPOINTING   RUMOR 

About  the  same  time  the  expectations  of  the  Americans  and 
French  were  raised  by  a  rumor  of  the  meeting  of  a  fleet  at 
sea,  supposed  to  be  the  much  wished  for  second  division  from 
France.  *  Hope  rose -high  that  it  might  get  safe  into  port. 
Washington  counseled  secrecy,  as  the  enemy  would  try  every 
measure  they  could  devise  to  intercept  it. 

Chevalier  de  Ternay  made  objection  to  the  rendezvous  of  the 
expected  squadron  in  Delaware  Bay,  on  account  of  difficulties 
of  navigation  for  large  ships  and  danger  of  blockade  by  the 
vessels  of  the  enemy.  He  considered  Boston  more  secure  and 
more  convenient  for  future  operations. 


330         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

He  thought  any  merchant  vessels  convoyed  by  the  fleet  of 
the  second  division  might  enter  the  Delaware.  To  Chevalier 
de  la  L,uzerne,  De  Ternay  proposed  if  the  second  division  should 
arrive  in  Chesapeake  Bay  it  should  be  at  the  discretion  of 
General  Washington  and  Count  DK  ROCHAMBKAU  to  have  the 
transports  enter  the  Delaware  and  the  war  ships  continue  to 
Boston. 

AMERICAN   SCOUT   SHIPS 

To  the  chevalier  from  headquarters  at  Orangetown,  August 
1 6,  Washington  approved  of  the  programme  marked  out  by  the 
French  admiral,  and  informed  him  of  the  communication  of  his 
views  to  the  board  of  admiralty  at  Philadelphia  respecting  the 
employment  of  the  American  frigates  and  sloop  of  war  Saratoga, 
until  "circumstances  admit  of  our  commencing  more  serious 
operations  against  the  enemy."  It  was  at  the  suggestion  of 
the  French  admiral  that  the  American  frigates  were  put  to  scout 
ing  along  the  coast  to  intercept  British  vessels  trading  between 
Charleston  and  New  York.  He  also  requested  the  sending  of 
the  sloop  Saratoga  to  San  Domingo  with  dispatches  to  Count 
de  Guichen,  then  commanding  a  French  squadron  in  the  West 
Indies. 

It  was  the  wish  of  De  Ternay  that  the  West  India  fleet  should 
unite  with  that  in  American  waters,  which  would  give  a  posi 
tive  superiority,  as  compared  with  the  British  naval  strength, 
and  make  possible  the  success  of  an  attack  on  New  York. 

In  his  instructions  De  Ternay  was  empowered  by  the  King 
to  call  upon  De  Guichen  for  assistance. 

On  August  17,  Washington  ordered  General  Heath  that  as 
soon  as  the  ' '  three- months'  men ' '  furnished  by  Rhode  Island 
and  Massachusetts  could  be  spared  they  should  proceed  to 
Peekskill. 

Indications  of  an  attempt  by  Clinton  for  another  expedition 
from  New  York,  though  much  smaller  than  the  former,  caused 
Washington  to  rescind  these  marching  orders  regarding  the 
Rhode  Island  militia. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         331 

As  the  imminence  of  attack  on  Newport  had  subsided,  Gen 
eral  Heath  renewed  his  desire  to  join  Washington's  army,  from 
which,  however,  the  general  dissented  upon  grounds  very  com 
plimentary  to  Heath,  quoting  also  from  a  letter  from  the  Count: 
"I  shall  keep  with  me,  if  you  think  proper,  General  Heath, 
whose  ardor,  spirit,  and  activity  are  absolutely  necessary  to  me. ' ' 

The  success  of  the  eastern  cruisers  against  the  British  fleet 
bound  for  Quebec  gave  great  satisfaction.  Sixteen  prizes  were 
captured,  with  a  hope  that  the  remainder  of  the  fleet  would  follow. 

POINTS   OF   UNDERSTANDING  STATED 

About  a  week  after  returning  to  Washington's  headquarters 
near  Dobbs  Ferry  (August  9),  in  order  to  avoid  misunder 
standing,  the  Marquis  drew  up  in  the  form  of  articles  a  synopsis 
of  points  definitely  determined  upon  with  the  French  general 
and  admiral  which  he  transmitted  to  them  for  sanction  and 
handed  to  General  Washington  for  information,  viz: 

1 .  You  have  written  to  France  to  hasten  the  arrival  and  the  augmenta 
tion  of  the  expected  succors.     You  have  already  demanded  the  five  ves 
sels  of  M.  de  Guichen,  and  I  took  charge  of  a  separate  letter  repeating 
the  same  requisition,  which  is  to  pass  throi  gh  the  hands  of  the  Chevalier 
de  la  Luzerne. 

2.  As  soon  as  you  hear  of  the  arrival  either  of  the  second  division  or  of 
the  ships  from  the  West  Indies,  you  will  immediately  dispatch  an  express 
to  General  Washington;  and,  while  our  army  will  march  to  Westchester, 
and  yours  will  be  making  preparations  for  its  embarkation,  M.  de  Ternay 
will  endeavor  to  effect  a  junction. 

3.  If  the  French  fleet  is  equal  to  that  of  the  enemy,  it  will  immediately 
fight  for  the  superiority;  if  it  is  superior,  it  will  immediately  take  on  board 
the  French  troops  and  transport  them  to  the  place  fixed  upon  for  the 
landing. 

4.  A  spot  shall  be  chosen  where  the  ships  may  protect  the  operation, 
and  where  the  troops  first  landed  may  take  a  position  supported  by  the 
fire  of  the  ships,  and  behind  which  the  rest  of  the  army  may  join  them; 
where,  as  the  troops  advance  farther,  they  may  still  be  supported  on  the 
right  and  left,  and  the  rest  of  the  landing  be  covered.     Such  a  place  shall 
be  chosen,  that  the  American  division  destined  for  this  particular  enter 
prise,  may  arrive  and  land  at  the  same  time  with  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU, 
and  that  their  general  may  cooperate  with  the  French  general. 


332         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

5.  According  to  the  number  of  French  troops  able  to  operate,  General 
Washington  will  send,  or  lead  himself,  to  L,ong  Island,  a  number  of  troops 
equal  to  those  of  the  enemy,  who  may  be  opposed  to  them,  and  will  4iave 
a  body  of  about  the  same  strength  either  at  Westchester  or  on  the  island 
of  New  York. 

6.  The  Chevalier  de  Ternay  will  attentively  examine  the  possibility  of 
forcing  the  passage  of  Sandy  Hook,  and  if  he  finds  it  can  be  done,  he  will 
accomplish  at  once  that  important  object. 

7.  As  soon  as  any  arms,  clothing,  or  stores  belonging  to  the  United 
States  shall  arrive,  the  Chevalier  de  Ternay  will  have  the  goodness,  with 
out  giving  them  time  to  enter  the  harbor,  to  send  them  at  once  under  a 
convoy  of  frigates,  or  if  there  are  no  batteries  erected,  with  a  ship  of  the 
line,  to  some  place  in  the  Sound  which  shall  be  fixed  upon  by  General 
Washington. 

8.  The  French  fleet  will  take  charge  of  the  boats  which  we  shall  need 
and  which  will  be  given  at  Providence.     The'  admiral  will  lend  us  all  the 
powder  he  can  spare,  which  at  this  moment  can  not  be  more  than  30,000 
pounds. 

9.  I  will  send  to  the  French  generals  information  respecting  the  passage 
of  the  Sound  at  Hell  Gate.     I  will  also  communicate  all  the  details-  con 
cerning  Brooklyn;  and  we  will  accordingly  send  our  calculations  for  the 
artillery  and  the  engineers,  by  which  we  shall  determine  what  to  send  in 
these  two  respects  with  the  American  corps  for  Long  Island.     These  two 
points  are  those  which  raised  some  doubts  in  the  opinion  of  the  French 
generals,  and  I  will  send  to  them  from  here  some  information  concerning 
what  I  had  the  honor  to  tell  them. 

10.  The  sick  and  stores  shall  be  sent  to  Providence,  and  the  batteries 
upon  that  river  shall  be  made  fit  for  service.  • 

11.  It  is  perfectly  understood  that  the  moment  the  French  obtain  a 
naval  superiority  they  will  not  lose  a  single   day  in  commencing  their 
cooperation. 

The  articles  convey  what  the  joint  operations  were  intended 
to  compass,  but  as  the  second  division  never  started;  the  current 
of  events  took  quite  a  different  trend. 

A   BREEZY   CORRESPONDENCE 

This  was  accompanied  by  a  communication  not  intended  as 
official,  which  indicated  in  somewhat  plain  terms  that  the  fate 
of  the  cause  of  America  rested  upon  the  activity  of  the  French 
army,  that  the  occupation  of  Rhode  Island  was  of  no  advantage, 
and  a  junction  should  be  made  with  Washington  without  delay 
for  an  attempt  on  New  York. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         333 

The  letter,  concluding  in  the  nature  of  a  summons,  proved 
displeasing  to  the  Count,  inasmuch  as  he  received  by  the  same 
courier  letters  from  General  Washington  himself,  in  which  no 
allusion  was  made  to  the  plans  proposed  by  the  Marquis. 

The  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBKAU,  somewhat  aroused  .by  the 
directness  of  L,afayette's  intimations,  grew  satirical  in  reply, 
concluding  by  intimating  he  awaited  the  orders  of  Washington, 
and  desired  an  interview. 

The  young  marquis  promptly  returned  a  reply  especially 
expressive  of  his  mortification  to  see  the  French  fleet  block 
aded  in  Rhode  Island  and  the  army  idle.  The  Count  parried 
the  suggestion  by  observing  the  port  of  Brest  had  been  block 
aded  for  more  than  two  months  by  an  English  fleet  so  that  the 
second  division  could  not  get  out,  adding — 

he  had  an  experience  of  command  of  forty  years  and  of  15,000  men  who 
had  been  killed  or  wounded  under  his  orders,  yet  he  could  not  reproach 
himself  with  a  single  person  killed  on  his  account. 

The  Count  also  reminded  him  there  were  14,000  troops  on 
New  York  Island,  besides  the  militia,  and  the  French  fleet  was 
blockaded  in  Newport  by  a  largely  superior  enemy.  To  leave 
it  in  such  a  predicament  would  be  to  invite  destruction. 

At  the  same  time  De  Ternay  declined  to  go  to  Sandy  Hook, 
as  it  was  not  feasible  to  get  his  seventy-fours  over  the  bar. 

Any  attempt,  however,  to  create  an  impression  that  this 
divergence  of  views  was  the  cause  of  the  tardiness  in  the  two 
chiefs  getting  into  conference  is  without  corroboration. 

At  this  time  the  Count  appears  to  have  mastered  the  English 
language.  In  a  letter  to  Washington  in  that  tongue,  he  ex 
pressed  his  appreciation  of  his  letters  and  requested  in  future 
to  allow  his  correspondence  with  him  to  be  direct,  and  renewed 
his  request  for  an  interview. 

FAI^ACY   OF   FORMER    FEARS 

It  is  gratifying  to  the  sense  of  American  honor  and  to  the 
patriots  of  Rhode  Island  and  the  adjacent  States  of  Massachu 
setts  and  Connecticut  to  have  recorded  in  this  paper  the  follow 
ing  from  Lafayette: 


334         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

Nothing  can  equal  the  spirit  with  which  they  (the  militia)  turned  out,  and 
I  did  not  neglect  to  let  the  French  know  that  they  have  done  more  for 
their  allies  than  they  would  have  done  for  the  security  of  their  own  Conti 
nental  troops  on  a  similar  occasion. 

The  French  troops  now  expressed  an  urgent  desire  to  join 
Washington's  command  without  delay. 

A    WARLIKE    MILLENNIUM 

In  regard  to  the  feeling  which  had  caused  so  much  unneces 
sary  anxiety  on  the  part  of  Congress  and  Washington,  the 
Marquis  reported: 

You  would  have  been  glad  to  see  250  of  our  drafts  who  went  to  Conani- 
cut  Island  the  other  day,  without  provisions  and  tents,  mixed  in  such  a 
way  with  the  French  troops  that  every  French  soldier  and  officer  took  an 
American  with  him  and  divided  his  bed  and  his  supper  in  the  most  friendly 
manner.  The  patience  and  sobriety  of  our  militia  are  so  much  admired 
by  the  French  officers  that  two  days  ago  a  FArench  colonel  called  all  his 
officers  together  to  ask  them  to  observe  the  good  examples  given  to  the 
French  soldiers  by  the  American  troops.  On  the  other  hand,  the  French 
discipline  is  such  that  chickens  and  pigs  walk  between  the  lines  without 
being  molested,  and  that  there  is  a  cornfield  in  the  camp  not  one  leaf  of 
which  has  been  touched.  The  Tories  know  not  what  to  say  of  it. 

A   DESPERATE   ALTERNATIVE 

In  a  lengthy  correspondence  with  Congress,  August  20,  from 
his  camp  at  Orange,  the  general  in  chief  reviewed  the  increased 
embarrassment  of  his  situation  in  no  mincing,  yet  very  pathetic, 
terms.  It  is  not  necessary  to  repeat  them  here,  further  than  to 
briefly  quote  in  his  own  words — 

at  this  very  juncture  I  am  reduced  to  the  principal  alternative,  either  of 
dismissing  a  part  of  the  militia  now  assembling  or  letting  them  come  for 
ward  to  starve,  which  it  will  be  extremely  difficult  for  the  troops  already 
in  the  field  to  avoid. 

He  called  attention  to  the  adverse  condition,  heavy  debts, 
and  distress  in  England,  yet  less  terrible  to  the  King  and  his 
ministers  than  giving  up  the  contest. 

Although  the  capture  of  New  .York  was  one  of  the  cherished 
objects  of  General  Washington's  plans  after  the  arrival  of  the 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         335 

French,  he  never  abandoned  the  supreme  thought  of  a  naval 
superiority  which  would  justify  the  undertaking.  He  so  con 
veyed  his  views  to  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU. 

CAMPAIGN    PLANS    BY    CORRESPONDENCE 

This  communication,  aside  from  the  main  subject,  is  a  tribute 
to  the  skill  of  Washington  in  military  tactics  from  his  point  of 
view,  and  the  inside  glimpse  it  gives  is  interesting: 

The  reflections  you  make  on  the  difficulty  of  effecting  a  debarkation  on 
Long  Island  without  a  naval  superiority  are  natural  and  judicious  from 
the  view  you  must  have  of  it;  but  from  a  knowledge  in  part  of  the  local 
situation  and  from  particular  inquiries  of  others  I  think  the  debarkation 
would  be  practicable.  From  the  shape  of  the  ground  on  both  sides  and 
the  narrowness  of  the  Sound  in  several  parts  there  are  different  points  of 
debarkation,  and  the  enemy  could  not  with  propriety  uncover  New  York 
so  much  (especially  if  we  had  once  thrown  ourselves  upon  that  island)  as 
to  have  a  sufficient  force  on  Long  Island  to  give  effectual  opposition  at 
each  point.  *  *  * 

But  notwithstanding  the  practicability  of  such  an  operation  I  entirely 
agree  in  opinion  with  you,  for  several  reasons,  that  it  will  be  best  to  defer 
the  commencement  of  the  enterprise  until  we  get  superiority  at  sea.  *  *  * 

As  to  the  particular  mode  of  operating  against  New  York,  we  may  at 
this  time  combine  different  possibilities,  but  we  can  not  fix  a  definite 
plan.  There  are  three  ways:  First,  by  acting  with  our  whole  force  on  York 
Island;  secondly,  by  beginning  our  operations  against  Brooklyn  with  the 
principal  part  of  our  force,  leaving  a  corps  of  observation  for  the  security 
of  our  communication  well  intrenched  on  York  Island  or  on  the  main;  or 
thirdly,  by  dividing  our  force  into  two  parts  to  act  against  the  works  on 
both  islands  at  once. 

Which  of  these  plans  will  be  preferable  must  depend  on  the  time  we 
begin  to  act  and  the  force  we  have  to  act  with.  If  these  circumstances 
correspond  with  our  wishes  I  would  prefer  the  last  of  the  three.  *  *  * 

In  taking  post  on  Long  Island,  a  force  equal  to  the  whole  of  the  enemy 
may  be  prudent  to  guard  against  possibilities;  but  after  we  have  taken 
post  and  the  usual  precautions,  two-thirds  of  their  whole  force  will  in  my 
opinion  be  sufficient,  both  for  security  and  the  reduction  of  the  works  there. 
They  will  never  hazard  the  withdrawing  of  more  than  two-thirds  of  their 
force  from  New  York  to  attack  the  corps  on  Lpng  Island  while  there  is 
an  army  of  more  than  their  whole  force  in  front  ready  to  fall  upon  the 
remainder. 


336         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

The  Marquis  de  Lafayette  after  his  return  from  Newport, 
with  the  approval  of  Washington,  submitted  to  the  Count  a  plan 
for  the  reduction  of  New  York. 

This,  however,  did  not  meet  with  approval  for  the  following 
reasons.  Before  taking  the  offensive  it  was  necessary  to  await 
the  arrival  of  the  second  division  of  French  troops,  with  sufficient 
maritime  force  to  give  the  fleet  superiority,  or  succor  from  Count 
de  Guichen  in  the  West  Indies,  and  a  decrease  of  the  enemy's 
force  at  New  York,  by  detachment  to  the  south  or  the  West 
Indies. 

The  Count  determined,  until  one  of  these  conditions  should 
transpire,  to  remain  on  the  defensive. 

He  therefore  did  not  take  kindly  to  the  plan  submitted,  and 
so  expressed  himself  in  a  formal  communication.  The  letter  of 
Washington  above  quoted  was  in  the  nature  of  a  justification  of 
the  plan. 

CONFERENCE   SOUGHT 

In  the  same  letter  General  Washington  reciprocated  the 
Count's  desire  for  an  interview,  observing — 

it  would  infinitely  facilitate  our  arrangement  and  gratify  the  desire  I  feel 
of  assuring  you  and  the  admiral  personally  of  my  esteem, 

adding — 

but  to  my  great  mortification  and  regret  there  are  difficulties  in  the  way 
not  easily  surmounted.  We  are  about  10  miles  from  the  enemy.  Our 
popular  govermirent  imposes  a  necessity  of  great  circumspection.  If  any 
misfortune  should  happen  in  my  absence,  it  would  be  attended  with 
every  inconvenience. 

The  general  informed  the  Count  he  would  endeavor  speedily 
to  meet  him  at  some  convenient  rendezvous,  and  requested  to 
know  to  what  distance  the  admiral  and  himself  would  think  it 
prudent  to  absent  themselves  from  the  fleet  and  army. 

In  his  reply  the  Count  informed  Washington  that  he  and  the 
admiral  could  go  as  far  as  Hartford  or,  if  necessary,  to  Dan- 
bury,  leaving  it  to  the  general  to  decide  as  to  time  and  place, 
urging  no  delay. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         337 

The  Count,  in  his  memoirs,  comments  upon  this  phase  of  the 
military  propositions  before  both  armies  in  these  terms  of 
distinguished  consideration  and  comment: 

I  must,  however,  do  General  Lafayette  the  justice  to  say  that  he  always 
showed  himself  the  faithful  interpreter  of  General  Washington's  senti 
ments,  and  that  the  latter  had  recourse  to  the  youthful  ardor  of  his  friend 
to  express  these  sentiments  with  greater  energy.  The  latter  really 
believed  at  that  period,  and  he  was  perhaps  not  altogether  mistaken,  that 
on  account  of  the  great  decline  in  the  finances  of  Congress,  this  campaign 
was  the  last  struggle  of  expiring  patriotism.  Under  the  circumstances  he 
was  anxious  to  strike  a  decisive  blow  by  attacking  the  very  center  of  the 
enemy's  position,  while  he  could  still  count  on  the  assistance  of  tlie  French 
troops.  He  was  fully  aware,  however,  of  the  consequences,  and  he  con 
curred  with  the  principles  of  my  letter.  Since  I  have  corresponded  di 
rectly  with  him,  I  have  had  many  proofs  of  his  sound  judgment;  his  style 
is  peculiarly  amiable  and  the  death  of  either  of  us,  I  feel  confident,  can 
alone  break  off  our  correspondence. 

BLOCKADE  OF  THE  SECOND  FRENCH  DIVISION 

The  U.  S.  frigate  Alliance  arrived  in  Boston  August  16  with 
information  of  the  blockade  of  the  second  division  of  Count 
DE  ROCH  AM  BEAU'S  army  aboard  the  transports  in  the  harbor  of 
Brest  by  a  British  fleet  of  32  sail.  The  Alliance  also  brought 
2,000  stand  of  arms,  several  cannon,  and  powder. 

The  above  intelligence  very  materially  lowered  the  immediate 
prospects  of  the  proposed  campaign.  The  general  in  chief  also 
realizing  the  necessities  of  the  Government  and  the  sparse 
resources  at  command,  urged  upon  General  Heath  the -return 
home  of  the  militia  as  soon  as  their  services  were  no  longer 
required  by  the  French  commander. 

With  regard  to  the  cost  of  the  works  on  Butts  Hill,  which 
the  commander  of  the  allies  thought  should  be  borne  by  the 
Americans,  Washington  showed  his  wonderful  tact,  observing: 

I  should  be  glad  that  everything  of  this  kind  be  avoided,  so  far  as  it  can  be 
done  without  impeaching  the  generosity  of  the  States,  for  while  our  allies 
are  sending  fleets  and  armies  to  our  assistance  and  maintaining  them  at 
their  own  expense  in  our  country,  it  might  not  be  decent  to  refuse  bearing 
such  little  expenses  as  they  seem  to  expect. 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 22 


338         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

Notwithstanding  all  that  the  French  King  had  done,  there 
were  those  who  spoke  disparagingly  under  the  supposition  that 
it  was  not  commensurate  with  the  conditions  of  the  alliance 
and  the  importance  of  the  struggle.  Among  the  complaints 
was  the  assertion  that  Doctor  Franklin,  then  in  Paris,  was  not 
up  to  the  requirements  of  the  situation. 

SENSATIONS   DEPRECATED 

M.  de  la  Luzerne,  the  French  envoy  at  Philadelphia,  took  up 
the  subject  in  a  report  to  Count  de  Vergennes,  referring  par 
ticularly  to  the  views  expressed  by  certain  individuals  (then 
recently  returned  from  France)  and  others  of  their  way  of 
thinking  ' '  who  seem  to  imagine  the  American  minister  should 
keep  the  French  Court  in  a  state  of  alarm  ' '  with  vivid  pictures 
of  the  critical  situation  of  the  United  States  and  redouble  his 
applications  and  requisitions;  that  without  a  subsidy  of 
20,000,000  livres  annually  and  the  aid  of  20  vessels  of  war  the 
States  would  be  in  danger  of  falling  back  into  the  hands  of 
England,  or  the  people  of  America  would  be  compelled  to  make 
a  separate  arrangement  with  England. 

Count  de  Vergennes  formally  communicated  his  views  of  the 
pernicious  effect  of  an  attempt  to  alarm  the  French  ministry 
by  false  and  exaggerated  accounts,  adding,  that  he  was  well 
advised  of  the  state  of  affairs  and  that  any  such  proceeding  as 
proposed  by  the  complainants  would  not  only  put  the  reports  of 
the  American  minister  in  contradiction  to  those  of  M.  de  la 
L,uzerne  on  the  spot,  but  would  be  returning  deception  and 
imposition  for  the  generous  conduct  and  benefits  of  the  King, 
the  only  ally  of  the  United  States  in  their  great  distress. 

This  letter  of  Vergennes,  the  most  active  and  aggressive  of 
the  promoters  of  French  aid  to  the  United  States,  was  written 
August  1 8,  and  put  a  stop  to  this  inexcusable  fault-finding 
among  a  small  coterie  of  our  own  people. 

The  blockade  of  the  port  of  Brest,  causing  delay  in  the  sail 
ing  of  the  second  division  of  the  French  fleet,  very  materially 
changed  the  state  of  affairs  of  the  proposed  autumn  campaign  of 
1780,  yet  Washington, -with  that  buoyant  hope  which  carried 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America     •   339 

him  through  so  many  trials  and  disappointments,  still  looked 
for  ' '  some  important  operation,  but  probably  in  a  different 
quarter." 

RENEWING    ANCIENT    TIES 

Recalling  the  attachment  of  the  Iroquois  Indians  to  the 
French  during  the  colonial  wars,  it  was  deemed  a  stroke  of 
good  policy  against  the  English  to  have  a  deputation  of  chiefs 
visit  the  French  army  and  fleet  at  Newport.  For  this  purpose 
13  Oneida  and  Tuscarora  chiefs  from  the  New  York  tribes  and 
5  Caghnawago  from  Sault  St.  L,ouis,  near  Montreal,  were  chosen 
to  compose  the  deputation. 

At  the  time  of  the  surrender  of  Canada  to  the  British  M.  de 
Vaudreuil  presented  to  his  Indian  friends  a  golden  crucifix 
and  watch  as  a  token  of  friendship  and  recognition.  These 
emblems  had  always  been  cherished  among  the  tribes.  It  was 
presumed  that  a  | renewal  of  these  former  ties  might  have  the 
effect  of  weakening  the  influence  of  the  British  and  bring  the 
Indians  into  closer  relations  with  the  Americans  and  French. 

INDIAN    CHIEFS    IN   THE    FRENCH    CAMP 

The  deputation,  with  a  competent  interpreter,  arrived  at  New 
port  toward  the  end  of  August  and  were  received  with  great 
ceremony  and  consideration  by  the  French  officers.  The  Cana 
dian  delegation  asking  to  hear  mass  were  gratified  by  the  head 
quarters'  chaplain.  A  series  of  entertainments  and  military 
displays  occupied  the  time  of  their  visit  and  gave  the  warriors 
of  the  forest  great  satisfaction.  ROCHAMBEAU  received  them 
with  cordiality  and  gave  them  a  dinner.  Commissary  Blanch- 
ard  is  authority  that  they  behaved  well  and  ate  cleanly  enough. 
General  Heath  gave  them  a  ' '  sumptuous  treat ' '  after  dinner. 
Suitable  presents  were  distributed  and  each  chief  was  the  recip 
ient  of  a  medal  representing  the  coronation  of  the  French  King. 
On  the  afternoon  of  August  24  a  grand  review,  with  discharges 
of  cannon  was  given  in  their  honor.  The  sagamores,  as  a 
return  compliment,  in  full  paint  and  panoply,  gave  a  "scalp 
dance,"  to  the  great  edification  and  enjoyment  of  the  entire 


340         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

French  army.  They  were  also  entertained  on  board  the  Due 
de  Bourgogne  by  De  Ternay  and  the  officers  of  the  fleet,  with 
mutual  interest. 

The  following  address,  in  French  and  English,  signed  and 
sealed  by  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  was  given  to  the  sachems  as 
they  departed,  to  be  distributed  among  the  friendly  Indians: 

The  King  of  France,  your  father,  has  not  forgotten  his  children.  As  a 
token  of  remembrance  I  have  presented  gifts  to  your  deputies  in  his  name. 
He  learned  with  concern  that  many  nations,  deceived  by  the  English,  who 
are  his  enemies,  had  attacked  and  lifted  up  the  hatchet  against  his  good 
and  faithful  allies,  the  United  States.  He  has  desired  me  to  tell  you  that 
he  is  a  firm  "and  faithful  friend  to  all  the  friends  of  America  and  a  decided 
enemy  to  all  its  foes.  He  hopes  that  his  children,  whom  he  loves  sin 
cerely,  will  take  part  with  their  father  in  this  war  against  the  English. 

The  meeting  gave  Washington  great  satisfaction.  He  as 
sured  the  Count  that  it  would  have  a  good  effect,  adding — 

It  has  been  the  policy  of  the  English  in  regard  to  them  to  discredit  the 
accounts  of  an  alliance  between  France  and  America.  *  *  *  The  sub 
stantial  evidence  of  your  army  and  fleet,  and  not  less  of  your  presents  and 
good  cheer,  will  not  fail  to  have  a  happy  influence. 

During  the  presence  of  the  red  chiefs  the  birthday  of  the 
white  king  (August  25)  was  an  occasion  of  loyal  display  among 
the  allied  French,  and  savage  rites  by  the  aboriginal  Americans. 

The  warships  and  transports  and  small  craft  were  trimmed 
with  the  flags  of  all  nations  at  peace  with  France.  The  white 
lily  standard  of  De  Bourbon  waved  from  every  mast  and  staff 
in  harbor,  town,  and  fort  of  Newport. 

An  express  announced  similar  honors  in  the  camp  of  Wash 
ington  at  Orangetown  and  at  the  residence  of  De  la  Luzerne  in 
Philadelphia,  where  there  was  given  a  great  banquet,  with 
toasts  to  L,ouis  XVI,  the  States,  and  commanders  of  the  allied 
armies. 

BRITISH   AGAIN   ACTIVE 

The  activity  of  the  British  troops  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York 
led  Washington  to  make  a  change  of  camp  to  the  other  side  of 
the  Hackensack,  about  2  miles  from  his  previous  Bergen  County 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America        341 

headquarters  and  about  5  miles  from  the  North  River,  where  he 
notified  the  Count  he  would  remain  awaiting  a  solution  of  the 
designs  of  the  enemy. 

Although  rumors  were  still  rife  of  embarkations  and  contem 
plated  offensive  operations  of  the  British  under  Clinton,  the 
defeat  of  Gates  at  Camden  gave  Washington  ground  for  the 
belief  that  a  detachment  of  three  or  four  thousand  men  to  Vir 
ginia  was  now  probable. 

PROPOSED   INTERVIEW 

In  order  to  arrive  at  some  plan  of  concerted  operations,  Wash 
ington  proposed  September  20  as  the  time,  if  convenient  to  the 
Count,  for  "our  interview  at  Hartford." 

During  these  delays  of  more  active  duty  Count  DE  ROCHAM- 
BEAU  carried  on  the  construction  of  a  system  of  defenses  of 
Rhode  Island.  In  this  connection  General  Washington  advised 
General  Heath  that  he  had  no  doubt  the  State  would  do  all  in 
its  power  to  accommodate  the  French  troops  should  circum 
stances  require  them  to  take  up  their  winter  quarters  in  Rhode 
Island. 

WASHINGTON   TO    DE    GUICHEN 

On  September  12  General  Washington  addressed  a  lengthy 
communication  to  Count  de  Guichen,  in  command  of  the  French 
fleet  in  the  West  Indies,  in  which  he  pointed  out  the  urgency 
of  reenforcements  from  him,  since  the  second  division  from 
France  was  unable  to  leave  Brest  on  account  of  the  blockade  by 
a  superior  British  force.  He  also  went  into  the  critical  condi 
tion  of  affairs  in  America.  Its  paper  credit  so  sunk  that  "no 
expedients  can  be  adopted  capable  of  retrieving  it;  "  resources 
diminished  by  a  five  years'  war;  Clinton  with  an  army  of  10,000 
regular  troops,  aided  by  militia,  secured  through  fear  or  attach 
ment,  in  possession  of  one  of  the  capital  towns  and  a  part  of  the 
State  to  which  it  belonged;  savages  desolating  the  frontier;  a 
fleet  superior  to  the  French  to  facilitate  any  of  the  enemy's 
projects;  Cornwallis  with  7,000  or  8,000  men  in  control  of 
Georgia,  and  the  Carolinas  at  his  mercy. 


342          French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

The  Marquis  de  Lafayette  and  Chevalier  de  Ternay  made 
similar  representations.  The  latter  requested  four  ships  of  the 
line  to  be  sent  to  the  coast  of  the  United  States. 

After  all  this  correspondence,  by  the  time  the  letter  of  Gen 
eral  Washington,  through  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne,  who  put  it 
in  cipher,  reached  its  destination  Count  de  Guichen  had  sailed 
for  France  and  De  Monteuil  could  not  unravel  the  cipher. 

DE   TERNAY   DISSATISFIED 

Chevalier  de  Ternay,  being  dissatisfied  with  the  prospects, 
wrote  to  Count  de  Vergennes  that  the  fleet  and  army  of  the 
King  had  not  arrived  at  the  most  advantageous  point  for 
effecting  any  important  operation  on  the  American  continent; 
that  owing  to  inferiority  of  means  ' '  we  should  be  at  a  greater 
distance  from  the  place  where  the  enemy  concentrate  their 
forces, ' '  being  obliged  to  remain  on  the  defensive  in  his  present 
position. 

The  fate  of  North  America,  he  thought,  was  yet  very  uncer 
tain,  and  the  Revolution  not  so  far  advanced  as  was  believed  in 
Europe. 

In  his  letter  to  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne  for  transmission  to 
Count  de  Guichen,  Washington  very  frankly  alluded  to  the 
' '  extremity  to  which  our  affairs  are  tending,  and  the  necessity 
of  support.  You  are  an  eyewitness  to  all  our  perplexities  and 
all  our  wants." 

On  September  13  Washington  sent  a  hurried  dispatch  to 
Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  announcing,  on  pretty  good  authority, 
that  Count  de  Guichen  was  really  approaching  the  coast. 

Although  somewhat  skeptical,  he  thought  it  wise  to  have  the 
proposed  meeting  on  the  2oth,  and  would  be  at  Hartford  ac 
cordingly.  In  event  of  the  report  proving  correct,  he  still 
favored  the  taking  of  New  York,  and  suggested  plans  to  that 
end. 

ARNOLD'S  DUPLICITY 

The  last  letter  of  Washington  to  Benedict  Arnold,  dated  Sep 
tember  14,  gave  the  traitor  information  of  his  intended  arrival 
at  Peekskill  on  Sunday  evening  on  his  way  to  Hartford  to 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         343 

meet  the  French  admiral  and  general,  and  orders  to  send  a 
guard  of  a  captain  and  50  men,  a  night's  forage  for  about  40 
horses,  and  requested  him  to  keep  the  journey  a  secret. 

When  Arnold  met  Washington  at  Kings  Ferry  on  the  after 
noon  of  September  18,  on  his  way  to  meet  Count  DE  ROCHAM- 
BKAU,  he  handed  to  the  general  in  person  his  written  opinion, 
as  requested,  upon  the  statement  submitted  to  the  council  of 
general  officers  on  September  6.  This  contained  a  detailed 
exhibit  of  the  effective  condition  of  the  American  army;  of  the 
garrison  at  West  Point;  of  the  strength  necessary  to  its  defense; 
return  of  ordnance  and  disposition  of  the  artillery  corps  in  event 
of  alarm. 

The  infamy  of  Arnold  may  be  best  understood  when  it  is 
known  that,  notwithstanding  the  friendship  Washington  had 
always  shown  him,  particularly  befriending  him  when  others 
suspected  his  fidelity  and  the  world  knew  of  his  dishonesty, 
these  papers,  some  original,  others  copies  in  Arnold's  own 
handwriting,  were  found  in  the  stockings  of  the  spy  Andre, 
captured  five  days  afterwards  on  his  way  to  rejoin  his  chief 
(Clinton)  at  New  York  to  put  the  scheme  into  execution,  the 
flotilla  being  in  readiness. 

Prior  to  his  departure  General  Washington  informed  Con 
gress  of  his  intended  interview  with  Count  DE  ROCHAM- 
BEAU  and  Chevalier  de  Ternay,  leaving  the  command  of  the 
army  to  Major-General  Greene  in  his  absence. 

The  general  in  chief  gave  very  precise  orders  to  govern  the 
actions  of  General  Greene,  especially  should  authentic  advice 
be  received  of  the  arrival  of  a  superior  French  fleet  on  the 
coast.  In  that  event  he  was  to  immediately  put  the  army 
under  marching  orders;  collect  boats  on  the  North  River  and 
plank  for  a  bridge  across  the  Harlem;  to  immediately  write  to 
the  States  of  Maryland,  Delaware,  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey, 
and  New  York  to  collect  provisions  and  forage;  to  raise  levies 
for  their  Continental  battalions;  and  to  put  their  nearest  militia 
under  marching  orders. 

It  was  apparent  the  general  in  chief  did  not  propose  to  be 
taken  at  a  disadvantage.  General  Greene  in  after  orders 


344         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

on  the  day  of  Washington's  departure  wound  up  by  requiring 
all  officers  to  be  in  perfect  readiness  to  meet  the  enemy  on  the 
slightest  notice  and  guards  to  be  vigilant  and  attentive  and 
patrols  active  and  watchful. 

There  was  great  apprehension,  should  Washington's  absence 
become  known,  that  the  enemy  would  be  encouraged  to  make 
some  movement. 

WASHINGTON   OFF   TO    MEET   ROCHAMBEAU 

The  general  left  his  camp,  starting  on  his  journey  to  meet 
ROCHAMBEAU  on  Monday,  September  18,  accompanied  by 
Major- General  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  General  Knox, 
Lieutenant- Colonel  Gouvion,  and  six  aids,  among  them  Colonel 
Hamilton,  and  the  same  evening  crossed  the  Hudson  at  Kings 
Ferry.  Arnold  went  down  the  river  to  meet  him  and  handed 
him  his  opinion,  as  requested,  concerning  the  exhibit  of  the 
military  situation,  and  returned  the  next  morning  to  Robinson 
House. 

Washington  continued  on  his  journey  to  Hartford  and  Comte 
ROCHAMBEAU  left  Newport  about  the  same  time,  accompanied 
by  General  Chastellux  and  seven  aids,  among  them  Fersen, 
Dumas,  and  Damas. 

HARTFORD    CONFERENCE 

The  conference  was  largely  taken  up  in  interchange  of  per 
sonal  consideration,  exchange  of  views  on  the  conditions,  and 
the  possibilities  of  the  ways  and  means  at  command.  The 
Count  preferred  to  remain  on  the  defensive  until  the  detained 
fleet  of  his  army  should  arrive.  Washington,  less  anxious 
concerning  the  aggressive  designs  of  Clinton,  was  impatient  to 
do  something  in  the  way  of  active  operations,  for  the  effect  on 
the  esprit  of  both  armies  and  the  morale  of  the  people  at  large. 

A  tentative  understanding  having  been  reached,  the  confer 
ence  came  to  an  abrupt  termination  by  the  arrival  of  couriers 
bringing  news  to  both  commanders  of  the  arrival  of  the  British 
Admiral  Rodney  at  New  York  from  the  West  Indies,  with  a 
fleet  of  21  vessels. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         345 

FRENCH   VIEW   OF   THE  AMERICAN    CHIEFTAIN 

There  was  great  curiosity  among  the  French  officers  to  get  a 
glimpse  of  "the  hero  of  liberty,"  as  they  called  the  American 
chieftain.  Comte  de  Fersen,  the  accomplished  first  aid  to 
General  ROCHAMBEAU,  in  one  of  his  numerous  epistolary  tes 
timonials,  sums  up  the  French  impression  as  ' '  illustrous  if  not 
unique  in  our  age.  His  fine  and  majestic  face,  while  mild  and 
frank,  reflects  his  moral  qualities.  He  looks  the  hero;  he  is  very 
cold,  speaks  but  little,  yet  is  polite  and  suave.  An  air  of  sadness 
overshadows  his  countenance  which  is  not  unbecoming,  and 
renders  him  yet  more  interesting. ' ' 

ROCHAMBEAU   TELLS   INCIDENT 

The  Count  tells  an  incident  which  occurred  on  his  journey 
to  the  conference,  as  follows: 

The  conveyance  in  which  I  proceeded  to  the  conference,  in  company 
with  Admiral  de  Ternay,  who  was  very  infirm,  broke  down.  I  dispatched 
my  first  aid-de-camp  to  fetch  a  wheelwright,  about  a  mile  distant.  He 
returned  with  the  information  that  the  man  was  sick  with  the  ague  and 
had  declared  that  for  his  hat  full  of  guineas  he  would  do  no  work  at  night. 

We  repaired  to  the  man's  shop,  telling  him  General  Washington  would 
arrive  the  same  evening  to  confer  with  us  the  following  day  and  we  would 
be  too  late  to  meet  him. 

"You  are  no  liars,  at  any  rate,"  said  he,  "I. read  in  the  Connecticut 
papers  Washington  was  to  be  there  to  confer  with  you.  As  it  is  for  the 
public  service,  I  shall  see  your  carriage  shall  be  ready  at  6  in  the  morning. " 

He  kept  his  word. 

On  the  return  another  wheel  broke,  and  we  were  again  obliged  to  have 
recourse  to  our  old  friend. 

"Well,"  said  he,  "so  you  want  me  to  work  again  for  you  at  night?" 

"Aye!  indeed  we  do,"  I  replied,  "Admiral  Rodney  has  arrived,  and  it  is 
important  for  us  to  get  back  to  Rhode  Island." 

"But  what  can  you  do  with  your  6  ships  against  the  20  Knglish?"  said 
the  smith. 

"It  will  be  the  most  glorious  day  of  our  lives  if  they  attempt  to  break 
our  line." 

"Come,  come,"  said  he,  "  you  shall  be  on  the  way  by  5  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  But  tell  me,  how  did  you  like  Washington?" 

We  assured  him  we  were  greatly  pleased  with  him.  This  satisfied  his 
patriotism  and  he  kept  his  word. 


346         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

In  the  way  of  comment  ROCHAMBEAU  adds: 

I  do  not  mean  to  compare  all  Americans  to  this  good  man;  but  almost 
all  the  inland  cultivators  and  all  the  landowners  of  Connecticut  are  ani 
mated  with  that  patriotic  spirit  which  many  other  people  would  do  well 
to  imitate. 

PLANS  FRUSTRATED 

All  plans  having  been  set  at  naught  by  the  simultaneous 
arrival  at  New  York  of  Admiral  Rodney,  which  increased  the 
English  numbers  threefold,  it  was  finally  concluded  the  season 
was  too  far  advanced  for  active  operations.  Though  there  was 
some  consideration  of  plans  for  the  spring,  it  was  too  far  in  the 
future  to  determine  anything.  It  was  therefore  agreed  that, 
unless  unexpected  events  should  necessitate  a  change,  the 
auxiliary  army  would  remain  where  it  was  and  go  into  winter 
quarters  when  the  cold  weather  came  on. 

In  the  meantime  it  was  decided  to  dispatch  a  messenger  back 
to  France  to  hasten  reenforcements  and  money  for  the  troops. 
For  this  purpose  Vicomte  d'e  Rochambeau,  colonel  of  the 
Regiment  Auvergne,  serving  on  the  staff  of  his  father,  was 
selected.  With  this  the  French  generals  returned  to  their 
respective  posts,  where  their  presence  was  urgently  needed. 
Baron  de  Viomenil,  however,  had  taken  the  necessary  precau 
tions  for  the  safety  of  the  French  ships.  Washington  returned 
to  the  Hudson,  arriving  at  West  Point  in  time  to  learn  of  the 
nefarious  plot  of  Benedict  Arnold  to  surrender  that  post  to 
the  British  and  of  the  capture  of  Andre,  just  in  time  to  prevent 
its  execution. 

THE    ARNOLD    CONSPIRACY 

The  secret  correspondence  between  Arnold  and  John  Andre, 
adjutant-general  of  the  British  forces  in  the  North  American 
colonies,  intrusted  exclusively  with  the  infamous  business, 
began  in  1779.  It  was  at  all  times  surmised  by  the  English 
general  in  chief  that  the  pseudonym  ( '  Gustavus ' '  represented 
more  than  an  ordinary  instrument  for  the  betrayal  of  the  rebel 
cause,  and  "John  Anderson,"  alias  John  Andre,  he  knew  to  be 
an  expert  of  more  than  ordinary  abilities. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         347 

The  most  valuable  information  communicated  by  Arnold 
related  to  the  arrival  of  the  French  army  under  ROCHAMBKAU. 
He  made  this  the  pretext  for  pressing  the  sale  of  his  services  to 
the  enemy,  claiming  dissatisfaction  with  the  French  alliance  and 
the  use  of  foreign  troops  on  American  soil. 

It  was  he  who  revealed  to  Clinton  the  important  secret,  con 
cealed  by  Washington  and  Congress  even  from  the  army,  of 
the  determination  between  Washington  and  ROCHAMBKAU  not 
to  undertake  concerted  movements  until  the  arrival  of  the 
additional  forces  from  France.  He  also  betrayed  the  confidence 
of  his  relations  with  his  general  in  chief  by  exposing  to  the 
enemy  the  ruse  of  the  invasion  of  Canada  by  ROCHAMBEAU  and 
Lafayette. 

It  was  on  the  3d  day  of  August,  1780,  that  Arnold  assumed 
command  at  West  Point.  In  July  he  had  advised  the  enemy 
of  the  probability  of  such  a  consummation  to  facilitate  his 
treachery. 

On  August  30  one  Heron,  a  member  of  the  Connecticut  legis 
lature,  the  State  of  Arnold's  birth,  after  dining  with  the  plot 
ter,  left  West  Point  as  bearer  of  a  flag,  presumably,  also,  of  the 
letter  of  that  date  from  Arnold  to  Andre,  and,  besides,  conveyed 
to  the  British  general  oral  information  of  a  highly  important 
character. 

The  moment  was  propitious.  The  position  at  West  Point 
had  always  been  regarded  as  the  citadel  of  the  military  fortunes 
of  the  American  struggle.  Three  years'  labor  and  $3,000,000 
had  been  expended  on  its  defenses.  It  was  considered  capable 
of  resisting  an  army  larger  than  the  British  could  muster  against 
it.  Its  possession  by  the  enemy,  besides  the  loss  of  the  large 
quantity  of  stores  and  military  supplies  of  all  kinds,  would  com 
pletely  sever  the  New  England  from  the  Middle  and  Southern 
States,  thus  cutting  the  Union  in  twain. 

As  was  correctly  surmised  by  Clinton,  the  tactical  feature  of 
Washington's  movement  would  be  an  attack  upon  Kings 
Bridge,  simultaneously  threatening  Staten  Island,  the  French 
under  ROCHAMBKAU  to  cooperate  by  a  movement  toward  New 
York  by  way  of  Long  Island. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 
THE  PLOT 

The  arrangement  between  Arnold  and  Andre  was  to  surren 
der  West  Point  at  the  moment  the  forces  and  materials  of  war 
were  assembled  ready  to  go  on  with  the  combined  movement 
contemplated  by  Washington  and  ROCHAMBKAU. 

Under  pretense  of  an  expedition  to  the  Chesapeake,  the 
British  transports  suitable  for  ascending  the  Hudson  were  to 
be  assembled  and  the  troops  massed  ready  to  go  aboard. 

At  the  interview  of  September  22  at  Josh  Smith's  house 
Arnold  produced  the  official  plans  of  West  Point  and  of  each  of 
the  works  prepared  for  General  Washington  by  his  French 
chief  engineer,  Duportail.  He  then  also  explained  details 
more  clearly  than  was  possible  by  the  light  of  a  dim  lantern  in 
the  darkness  and  brush  at  Long  Clove  the  night  before. 

The  route,  place  of  debarkation,  form  of  attack,  and  defense 
were  arranged;  and  to  facilitate  the  ascent  of  Rodney's  flotilla 
a  240- pound  link,  under  pretense  of  repair,  had  even  been 
removed  from  the  great  chain  barrier  across  the  Hudson  by 
Arnold's  order  and  a  .slight  connection  substituted. 

The  time  of  execution  was  set  for  the  25th  or  26th  of 
September,  when  Washington  was  about  to  return  from  his 
interview  with  ROCHAMBKAU  at  Hartford,  probably  adding  the 
seizure  of  his  person  to  the  surrender  of  the  post  and  its 
garrison. 

RAPID  SEQUENCE  OF  EVENTS 

Andre  left  New  York  September  20,  after  a  banquet  given 
him  by  Colonel  Sullivan  of  the  Eightieth  Foot  the  night 
before.  He  left  the  Vulture  the  night  of  the  2ist  and  landed 
at  Long  Clove. 

The  capture  of  Andre  took  place  on  the  23d  of  September  at 
9  a.  m.  at  Tarrytown.  Two  of  the  six  incriminating  papers 
taken  from  his  boots  were  in  the  handwriting  of  Arnold.  Arnold 
made  good  his  escape  on  the  25th,  and  Andre  paid  the  penalty 
of  his  offense  against  the  laws  of  war  October  2. 

Washington,  on  the  afternoon  of  September  24,  on  his  way 
back  from  his  conference  with  ROCHAMBEAU  had  reached  Fish- 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         349 

kill,  intending  to  pass  that  night  with  Arnold  at  Robinson's 
house,  his  headquarters,  18  miles  below.  Instead,  meeting  De 
la  L,uzerne,  the  French  envoy,  on  his  way  to  consult  with 
ROCHAMBKAU,  he  returned  for  conference,  the  two  passing  the 
night  at  Fishkill,  Washington  planning  to  breakfast  with  Arnold 
the  next  day.  During  this  delay  the  capture  of  Andre  became 
known  to  Arnold,  who  made  good  his  escape  a  few  hours  before 
the  arrival  of  his  deceived  chief. 

CLINTON'S  AFTER  OPINION 

It  will  suffice  to  give  here  the  British  commander  in  chief's 
own  version  of  his  purpose  in  his  official  report  to  his  Govern 
ment  dated  nine  days  after  the  hanging  of  his  adjutant-general: 

My  idea  (he  writes)  of  putting  into  execution  the  concerted  plan  with 
General  Arnold  with  most  efficacy,  was  to  have  deferred  it  till  Mr.  Wash 
ington,  cooperating  with  the  French,  moved  upon  this  place  (New  York) 
to  invest  it,  and  that  the  rebel  magazines  should  have  been  collected  and 
formed  in  their  several  depots,  particularly  that  at  West  Point.  General 
Arnold  surrendering  himself,  the  forts  and  garrisons  at  this  instant  would 
have  given  every  advantage  which  could  have  been  desired.  Mr.  Wash 
ington  must  have  instantly  retired  from  Kings  Bridge,  and  the  French 
troops  upon  Long  Island  would  have  been  consequently  left  unsupported 
and  probably  would  have  fallen  into  our  hands. 

PREPARING    FOR    POSSIBILITIES 

The  mortification  at  such  a  dastardly  act  at  this  juncture  was 
intense.  The  first  intention,  however,  of  Washington  was  to 
meet  the  exigencies  of  the  moment.  He  made,  a  hurried  dis 
position  of  his  forces  to  resist  an  attack  on  West  Point,  which 
he  found  in  a  most  critical  condition  should  one  be  attempted 
in  conformity  with  the  programme  marked  out  by  Arnold.  He 
also  gave  specific  orders  to  prevent  the  escape  of  Andre.  On 
the  morning  of  September  25,  Andre  was  brought  to  Washing 
ton  at  Robinson's,  and  the  same  evening  was  sent  to  West  Point 
for  safe-keeping. 

As  soon  as  the  general  heard  of  Andre's  capture,  measures 
were  set  on  foot  to  take  Arnold.  The  latter,  knowing  of  Wash 
ington's  approach  on  his  return  from  his  visit  to  ROCHAMBEAU, 


350         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

left  West  Point  an  hour  before  his  arrival,  and  made  good 
his  escape  before  the  officers  could  reach  Verplancks  Point, 
where  he  had  already  passed  with  a  flag,  and  went  aboard 
the  British  ship  of  war  Vulture,  which  lay  a  few  miles  below, 
leaving  Andre  to  his  fate. 

ROCHAMBKAU   ON    ARNOLD 

In  commenting  upon  this  incident  in  American  affairs  the 
Count  has  this  to  say  in  his  memoirs  : 

This  was  about  the  time  of  Arhold's  conspiracy.  He  had  agreed  a  month 
before  with  Andre,  aid-de-camp  to  General  Clinton,  to  deliver  up  West 
Point  fort,  the  depot  of  American  stores  on  the  Hudson,  which  contained  all 
their  supplies  of  ammunition.  He  had  reckoned  on  the  absence  of  General 
Washington  as  the  opportune  time  to  carry  out  his  treacherous  plans. 
The  General,  who  had  a  very  high  opinion  of  his  military  abilities,  had 
intrusted  him  with  this  important  command,  and  had  planned  to  visit  his 
protege"  and  garrison  on  the  very  day  of  Andre's  capture  by  a  party  of 
militia.  They  were  on  the  alert  to  secure  the  safe  return  of  their  general 
to  his  army.  Their  suspicions  were  excited  by  meeting  Andre,  disguised,  on 
the  road  from  West  Point  to  New  York.  They  stopped  him,  searched  his 
person,  and  found  concealed  in  his  shoes  the  whole  plan  of  the  conspiracy. 
He  offered  them  money,  but  they  scornfully  refused  it,  and  conducted  him 
to  headquarters. 

General  Washington  had  just  arrived  at  Arnold's,  but  the  latter,  as  soon 
as  he  was  apprised  of  the  arrest  of  Andre",  hastened  from  the  castle,  threw 
himself  into  a  boat,  and  put  off  with  all  speed  toward  an  English  vessel  of 
war,  which  he  knew  was  lying  below  Kings  Ferry. 

General  Washington  was  at  a  loss  to  account  for  his  absence,  and  his 
wife  could  give  no  tidings  of  her  husband,  but  advices  which  he  shortly 
after  received  from  the  army  gave  him  full  particulars.  He  gave  the 
necessary  orders  for  the  safety  of  the  garrison  and  returned  in  all  haste  to 
his  quarters. 

WASHINGTON    INFORMS    ROCHAMBEAU 

As  soon  as.  his  dispositions  were  effectually  made  and  order 
and  security  restored,  Washington  the  same  day  penned  a 
14-line  dispatch  to  Count  DK  ROCHAMBKAU,  ','  Gene^l  Arnold, 
who  has  sullied  his  former  glory  by  the  blackest  treason,  has 
escaped  to  the  enemy, ' '  and  by  way  of  a  moral,  "  in  a  revolution 
of  the  present  nature  it  is  more  to  be  wondered  at  that  the 
catalogue  is  so  small  than  that  there  have  been  found  a  few. ' ' 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         351 

On  October  10  he  wrote  again  to  the  Count,  referring  to  the 
execution  of  the  British  adjutant-general,  which  had  taken 
place  October  2  at  Tappan,  with  the  comment: 

The  circumstances  under  which  he  was  taken  justified  it  and  policy 
required  a  sacrifice;  but  as  he  was  more  unfortunate  than  criminal,  and  as 
there  was  much  in  his  character  to  interest,  while  we  yielded  to  the  neces 
sity  of  rigor  we  could  not  but  lament  it. 

BRITISH    DESIGNS    ON    NEWPORT   ABANDONED 

During  the  uncertainty  natural  to  a  situation  so  entirely  for 
eign  to  honor  under  the  Articles  of  War,  Rodney,  having  joined 
the  fleet  of  Arbuthnot,  appeared  off  Newport,  but  found  that 
during  the  inaction  of  the  latter  the  French  had  strengthened 
their  works  at  Brentons  Point  and  on  Conanicut  and  Rose  islands, 
which  were  manned  with  guns  of  24  and  36  pounds.  The  cross 
fire  thus  effected  made  the  entrance  secure  against  any  possible 
attack.  The  increase  also  of  the  American  land  forces  by  the 
prompt  rally  of  the  militia  rendered  further  effort  futile.  Accord-^ 
ingly  the  idea  of  an  attack  was  abandoned  and  the  entire  force 
of  the  enemy  sailed  back  to  New  York.  After  remaining  idle 
in  harbor  for  some  weeks,  before  the  winter  set  in,  Rodney, 
leaving  12  sail  of  the  line  under  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  departed 
for  the  West  Indies.  The  English  squadron  remaining  estab 
lished  winter  moorings  in  Gardiners  Bay  at  Long  Island  Point, 
with  a  view  of  keeping  the  French  fleet  in  sight.  At  the  same 
time  a  5o-gun  ship  and  several  frigates  were  dispatched  on  a 
cruise  down  the  coast.  Notwithstanding  the  apparent  vigilance 
of  the  English,  trade  at  Philadelphia  and  Boston  was  active. 
The  American  privateers  also  made  several  important  captures 
of  ships  of  the  enemy. 

DE    LUZERNE   VISITS    HIS    COUNTRYMEN 

In  the  first  week  of  October,  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne  left 
Philadelphia  on  a  visit  to  his  countrymen.  After  a  brief  halt 
at  Washington's  camp  in  the  field,  he  continued  to  the  head 
quarters  of  ROCHAMBEAU  at  Newport,  where  he  was  received 
with  great  ceremony. 


352          French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

The  sending  of  a  messenger  to  France  to  represent  the  sit 
uation  and  work  up  the  interests  of  the  cause  was  carefully 
discussed  and  a  line  of  action  agreed  upon.  The  Chevalier 
prepared  his  own  version  of  the  requirements,  which  were 
dispatched  with  the  same  messenger. 

There  were  two  understandings  when  ROCHAMBEAU  left 
France.  One,  that  a  second  division  of  ships  and  troops  should 
soon  follow  the  convoy  of  De  Ternay;  the  other,  contemplated 
a  junction  of  the  fleet  of  De  Guichen  in  the  West  Indies  with 
De  Ternay  and  ROCHAMBEAU. 

In  that  quarter  of  the  globe  it  was  a  question  of  mastery. 
The  East  Indies  were  unquestionably  British.  It  was  now 
doubtful  as  to  whether  the  West  Indies  would  be  the  same. 
Rodney  was  then  operating  the  British  naval  interests  and  kept 
De  Guichen  so  preoccupied  as  to  render  him  unable  to  get  away. 
This  was  a  decided  setback  to  the  combined  offensive  operations 
proposed  by  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU.  The  vessels  of  De 
Ternay  were  outclassed  by  Arbuthnot  -alone  in  numbers  and 
metal.  With  the  addition  of  Rodney's  ships  aggressive  opera 
tions  were  out  of  the  question. 

The  second  division  of  the  auxiliary  army  of  Count  DE 
ROCHAMBEAU,  proposed  for  service  under  Washington  in  Amer 
ica,  was  still  in  French  waters,  owing  to  blockade  in  the  harbor 
of  Brest;  while  war  with  England,  growing  out  of  the  alliance 
with  the  United  States,  and  menacing  conditions  incident  to 
international  politics  at  home,  rendered  assistance  from  the 
second  division  improbable. 

DE   TERNAY   TO   DE   VERGENNES 

The  French  admiral  continued  his  correspondence  with  Count 
de  Vergennes,  ventilating  his  sentiments  as  unfavorable  to  the 
outlook  of  affairs  in  America,  having  charged  M.  de  la  Perouse 
to  explain  to  him  his  reasons,  and  call  his-attention  to  Arnold's 
treason  as  an  evidence  that  there  were  traitors. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         353 

CAMPAIGN    PLANS    FOR   THE    KING 

From  his  camp  near  Passaic  Falls,  October  n,  1780,  Wash 
ington  submitted  to  the  President  of  Congress  his  views  upon 
the  new  arrangement  of  the  army,  which  by  a  special  resolve 
was  referred  to  the  commander  in  chief. 

The  enemy's  embodied  force  of  infantry  in  the  States,  with 
out  reference  to  occasional  aids  of  militia,  he  placed  at  18,000 
to  20,000  men.  He  figured  his  estimates  on  not  less  than 
18,000.  In  the  conference  with  the  French  general  and  admiral 
he  felt  obliged  to  give  an  opinion  of  his  own  force  which  might 
be  expected  for  the  next  campaign,  which  he  placed  at  15,000. 
On  this  estimate  of  15,000  a  memorial  with  a  plan  for  the  ensuing 
campaign  had  been  transmitted  to  the  Court  of  France. 

After  the  Arnold  treason  and  the  defeat  of  Gates  at  Camden, 
General  Washington  notified  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  of  the 
necessity  of  transferring  General  Heath  to  the  command  at  West 
Point,  which  he  assumed  October  16. 

General  Greene,  who  had  command  at  that  place,  at  the  solici 
tation  of  the  three  southern  States  of  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas, 
had  been  appointed  to  supersede  Gates. 

BRITISH    DIVERSION    SOUTHWARD 

In  October,  General  Leslie  sailed  from  New  York  with  about 
3,000  troops  in  order  to  create  a  diversion  in  favor  of  Lord  Corn- 
wallis's  operations  in  North  Carolina  under  his  command,  but 
to  act  on  James  River  toward  the  Roanoke.  Clinton,  however, 
advised  his  home  Government  that,  while  Washington  remained 
in  such  force  and  the  French  continued  at  Rhode  Island  he  did 
not  think  it  advisable  to  weaken  New  York. 

AIMING    AT    A    "HAPPY    STROKE" 

Washington  still  wished  to  terminate  the  campaign  by  some 
happy  stroke,  in  the  hope  of  correcting  ' '  the  misapprehension 
of  our  circumstances  in  Europe. ' ' 

He  had  gone  so  far  as  to  project  a  descent  by  Marquis  de 
Lafayette  and  his  light  infantry  upon  Staten  Island,  which  did 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 23 


354         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

not  come  off,  however,  for  lack  of  boats  and  other  essential 
preparations. 

In  order  to  relieve  the  tension  of  the  situation  in  the  south, 
Washington  urged  at  the  Hartford  conference,  as  far  as  decency 
and  policy  would  permit— which  was  also  advocated  by  General 
Sullivan,  then  a  Delegate  in  Congress  from  New  Haven — the 
expediency  of  ordering  the  French  fleet  from  Newport  to  Boston, 
where  it  might  remain  secure  till  reenforced,  and  of  calling  the 
French  troops  to  headquarters. 

The  object  in  Washington's  mind  was  to  arouse  fear  in  the 
British  general's  calculations  for  the  safety  of  New  York,  and 
to  deter  him  from  sending  reenforcements  against  Greene. 

The  proposition  was  without  result  in  convincing  the  French 
officers  at  the  conference,  therefore  the  troops  sent  from  the 
New  York  garrison  to  the  south  during  the  winter  of  1780-81, 
formed  a  very  important  part  of  the  British  forces  in  that 
quarter. 

The  situation  in  every  way  grew  more  distressing.  The 
news  from  the  southern  States  was  unfavorable.  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  had  defeated  Gates  at  Camden,  forcing  him  to  retreat  in 
the  utmost  confusion  to  Hillsboro,  N.  C. 

The  French  fleet  was  blockaded  in  Narragansett  Bay,  and  de 
Ternay  himself,  not  satisfie.d  with  the  trend  of  affairs,  was  writ 
ing  letters  to  that  effect  to  De  Vergennes,  the  French  minister 
of  foreign  affairs. 

In  one  of  these  he  used  these  words: 

We  are  actually  compelled  to  remain  on  a  very  strict  defensive.  The 
English  squadron  is  superior  in  numbers  and  in  every  other  respect.  The 
fate  of  North  America  is  very  uncertain,  and  the  Revolution  is  not  so  far 
advanced  as  is  believed  in  Kurope. 

HOMES   VERSUS    BILLETS 

On  his  return  from  the  Hartford  conference,  Count  DE 
ROCHAMBEAU  engaged  in  the  unusual  task  of  providing  winter 
quarters  for  his  troops  in  a  country  where  the  homes  of  the 
people  were  sacred  and  inviolable. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         355 

The  European  system  of  billeting  soldiers  on  the  people 
presented  a  novel  contrast  to  the  practice  in  free  America. 
In  commenting  on  the  point  the  Count  says  in  his  memoirs: 

Each  individual  holds  his  own  property  in  such  sacred  veneration  that 
General  Washington's  army  throughout  the  summer  had  no  other  resi 
dence  than  their  camp,  and  for  the  winter  were  obliged  to  make  shift 
with  wooden  huts,  which  the  soldiers  built  for  themselves  in  the  forests. 

This  plan,  however,  he  found  impossible  in  Rhode  Island, 
as  the  English  had  cut  down  and  used  for  fuel  during  the 
three  years  of  their  occupation  every  tree  on  the  island. 

The  vigorous  discipline  of  the  French  army  had  produced 
such  a  favorable  impression  upon  the  Government  and  people 
of  Rhode  Island  that  the  State  authorities  granted  the  request 
of  the  Count  to  repair,  at  his  own  expense — about  20,000 
livres — the  houses  damaged  by  the  English,  and  use  them  as 
quarters  in  place  of  a  barrack  camp,  the  inhabitants  to  provide 
separate  accommodations  for  the  officers. 

DISPATCHES    FOR    FRANCE 

The  Count  took  an  early  opportunity  to  get  a  frigate  through 
the  English  lines  to  convey  his  son  as  bearer  of  dispatches  to 
France  to  explain  his  own  wants  and  those  of  the  Americans, 
in  accordance  with  an  arrangement  at  the  Hartford  conference. 

On  October  28,  in  a  gale  of  wind,  the  Amazone,  La  Perouse 
commanding,  selected  for  Ihis  dangerous  mission,  put  to  sea. 
The  British  squadron,  dispersed  by  the  elements,  failed  to  over 
take  the  vessel.  Though  partly  dismasted  in  the  storm,  La 
Perouse  made  good  his  departure  and  safely  reached  France. 

THE  FRENCH  IN  WINTER  QUARTERS 

The  French  corps  wen.t  into  the  winter  quarters  they  had 
provided  early  in  November.  The  regiment  Bourbonnais  first, 
the  others  as  rapidly  as  accommodations  were  ready. 

Owing  to  the  scarcity  of  provisions,  part  of  Duke  de  Lauzun- 
Biron's  legion,  cavalry,  and  artillery  horses  occupied  barracks  at 
Banora,  Conn. ,  the  duke  himself  being  in  command. 


356         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

ROCHAMBKAU,  looking  for  quarters  for  the  not  yet  abandoned 
second  division,  visited  New  London,  Norwich,  and  Windham 
in  Connecticut.  During  his  tour  he  paid  a  visit  to  Duke  de 
Lauzun  and  inspected  the  winter  quarters  of  his  legion. 

DEATH   OF   DE   TERNAY 

Upon  his  return  he  found  Chevalier  de  Ternay  ill  from  a 
fever,  but  as  the  Chevalier  exhibited  no  serious  symptoms, 
continued  his  journey  to  Boston. 

During  his  absence  the  Chevalier's  illness  took  a  critical  turn. 
Having  been  taken  ashore  on  December  14  for  better  treatment, 
the  next  day  the  end  came  in  the  Wanton  House,  149  Thames 
street. 

The  funeral,  which  was  conducted  with  great  pomp  and  cere 
mony,  took  place  on  December  16.  The  troops  were  under 
arms  and  sailors  bore  the ^ coffin  to  the  grave. 

The  burial  service  was  rendered  by  priests  of  the  Roman 
Church,  and  the  remains  were  consigned  to  the  earth  in  the 
graveyard  of  Trinity  Protestant  Episcopal  Church." 

The  high  tributes  paid  the  lamented  De  Ternay  by  friend 
and  foe  were  numerous  and  deserved.  The  Royal  Gazette 
(Rivington),  one  of  the  most  implacable  of  Tory  sheets,  spoke 
of  him  as — 

an  officer  of  distinguished  reputation — a  gentleman  of  most  excellent  heart 
and  amiable  disposition  .  *  *  *  a  real  ornament  of  the  elegant  nation 
from  which  he  was  derived. 

DESTOUCHES   IN   COMMAND 

The  command  of  the  fleet  devolved  upon  Chevalier  Destouches, 
as  senior  officer  of  the  squadron,  who  carried  out  both  in  spirit 
and  letter  the  instructions  of  the  late  admiral. 

«In  1785  an  elegant  monument  was  erected  by  order  of  the  French  King,  consisting 
of  a  slab  of  Egyptian  marble  inscribed  in  gold.  Below  the  inscription  and  between 
the  brackets  was  an  escutcheon  charged  with  the  insignia  of  the  Knights  Hbspitaler 
of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem.  It  was  intended  for  the  inside  of  the  church,  but,  being  out 
of  proportion,  was  erected  on  the  west  side  of  the  gate.  Owing  to  the  effects  of  the 
elements,  in  1794  its  position  was  changed  at  the  expense  of  the  officers  of  the  French 
frigate  Medustz.  In  1873,  at  the  expense  of  the  United  States,  under  the  supervision  of 
the  Marquis  de  Noailles,  son  of  an  officer  under  ROCHAMBKAU,  it  was  repaired  and 
transferred  to  the  inside  of  the  church  and  a  granite  stone  placed  above  the  grave. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America         357 

The  death  of  Chevalier  de  Ternay  was  a  great  blow.  He 
was  a  skillful  navigator,  as  shown  by  the  masterly  manner  in 
which  he  conducted  the  convoy  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  his  army 
across  the  ocean  swarming  with  British  cruisers. 

WASHINGTON    HOLDS    THE    BRITISH    IN    NEW    YORK. 

The  commander  in  chief,  owing  to  the  unsatisfactory  condi 
tion  of  affairs  on  land  and  water  at  Newport,  impressed  with 
the  futility  of  active  operations  single  handed  against  the  Brit 
ish  position  at  New  York,  withdrew  with  his  army  to  the  New 
Jersey  side  of  the  Hudson  in  the  fall,  having  previously  estab 
lished  a  cordon  of  military  posts  within  supporting  distance  of 
each  other  around  the  city. 

From  this  point  Washington  not  only  held  his  troops  well  in 
hand  but  was  in  position  to  resist  any  aggressive  movement 
of  the  British.  At  the  same  time  he  was  in  communication, 
by  the  slow  methods  of  the  day,  with  the  French  commander 
on  the  water  and  the  French  and  American  forces  on  land  in 
Rhode  Island. 

In  December,  from  headquarters  at  New  Windsor,  Washing 
ton  approved  of  the  wintering  of  the  expected  second  division 
in 'Connecticut,  rather  than  in  Massachusetts,  as  more  conven 
ient  to  the  probable  scene  of  operations.  He  also  notified  the 
Count  of  the  withdrawal  of  his  chain  of  dragoons,  and  in  the 
future  would  send  his  dispatches  to  the  Duke  de  Lauzun,  at 
Lebanon,  Conn.,  as  he  desired. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  continued  desperation  of  the  situation, 
at  the  same  time  from  the  same  headquarters  (New  Windsor),, 
Washington  informed  Lafayette  of  ' '  there  not  being  so  much 
money  in  the  hands  of  the  quartermaster-general  as  would  bear 
the  expense  of  an  express  to  Rhode  Island." 

CORNWALLIS    BEING    REENFORCED 

About  the  middle  of  December,  from  New  Windsor,  Wash 
ington  informed  ROCHAMBEAU  arid  de  Ternay  of  the  embark 
ation  of  about  2,500  British  troops  to  strengthen  Cornwallis 


358         French  Army  and  Navy  in  America 

in  the   south,    and    also   of  information   received  of   powerful 
reenforcements  to  be  sent  over  from  England. 

THE   SECOND    FRENCH   DIVISION   NOT   MENTIONED 

By  the  latest  vessel  from  France  the  long-expected  second 
division  appeared  to  have  dropped  completely  out  of  sight,  as 
no  mention  even  was  made  of  it.  Washington,  therefore,  found 
another  of  his  cherished  hopes  gone  and  his  fertility  of  resource 
driven  back  to  the  maintenance  of  the  struggle  by  arts  and 
extremities  endurable  only  by  one  of  his  most  exalted  fortitude. 

PROPOSED    COOPERATION   WITH   SPAIN 

A  new  straw  at  which  he  hoped  to  be  able  to  grasp  by  a  par 
ticipation  of  the  allies  was  the  expeditions  hinted  at,  at  the 
court  of  Spain,  against  the  British  settlements  in  Florida.  The 
first  of  these,  consisting  of  4,000  men,  convoyed  by  8  vessels  of 
war,  had  sailed  October  16  from  Havana  to  attack  Pensacola. 
The  other,  10,000  men  with  12  ships  of  the  line,  frigates,  and 
bomb  ketches,  was  to  proceed  forthwith  against  St.  Augustine. 

Washington  proposed  combining  his  forces  with  those  of 
Spain  to  subdue  the  enemy  not  only  in  Florida,  but  in  Georgia 
and  South  Carolina. 

The  mode  of  procedure  suggested  by  him  was  to  negotiate 
with  the  commanders  of  the  Spanish  forces  and  the  governor  of 
Havana  with  a  view  to  cooperation  conjointly  or  by  diversion. 

In  event  of  .acceding  to  the  proposition  the  Spanish  ships, 
after  the  debarkation  of  their  troops  at  St.  Augustine,  were  to 
form  a  junction  with  the  French  squadron  at  Newport  and  take 
under  their  convoy  the  French  from  Newport  and  American 
troops  from  Philadelphia  for  Charleston. 

The  latter  force  promised  was  2,000  Continentals,  expecting 
the  Count  to  detach  double  that  number,  leaving  the  New  Eng 
land  militia  to  assist  the  remainder  in  protecting  their  works 
and  stores.  A  requisition  on  the  French  fleet  in  the  West 
Indies  was  also  proposed. 


French  Army  and  Navy  in  America     .  359 

NEW    COMMAND    FOR    D'ESTAING 

The  plan  was  not  favored  by  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU.  At 
the  same  time  intelligence  was  received  confirming  the  appoint 
ment  of  the  Marquis  de  Castries  and  the  preparation  of  large 
forces  at  Brest  and  at  Cadiz  which,  it  was  said,  would  be  under 
the  command  of  Count  D'Kstaing. 

In  view  of  all  this,  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  looked  for  dispatches 
of  decided  import  from  his  Government  and  therefore  could  not 
engage  in  the  operations  suggested  by  Washington. 

The  chief  difficulty  in  the  way  of  this  programme  was  the 
possibility  of  the  Spanish  commander  in  the  West  Indies  hav 
ing  specific  instructions  which  would  interfere  with  the  trans 
port  of  American  and  French  troops  to  the  south. 

In  addition,  the  recall  of  De  Guichen  to  Europe  left  Cheva 
lier  de  Monteul,  the  French  admiral,  with  a  force  insufficient  to 
insure  the  much  desired  naval  superiority. 

The  sudden  death  of  Chevalier  de  Ternay  added  not  a  little 
to  the  complications.  His  successor,  Chevalier  Destouches, 
pleaded  the  unseasonableness  of  the  weather  for  the  project  in 
question,  and  also  lack  of  supplies. 

COUNSELS    WITH    FRANKLIN 

In '  December,  Washington  sent  a  long  communication  to 
Franklin,  the  American  plenipotentiary,  reviewing  the  situa 
tion  and  particularly  the  retrograde  operations  of  Cornwallis 
in  the  .south  and  the  high  sense  he  had  of  the  abilities  of  Count 
DE  ROCHAMBEAU. 

In  January,  1781,  Col.  John  Laurens,  after  a  conference  with 
Washington,  under  instructions  from  Congress,  left  for  France 
to  lay  before  that  Government  the  full  condition  of  affairs.  This 
action  led  to  a  lively  debate  in  diplomatic  quarters,  in  which 
Count  de  Vergennes  took  up  the  cudgels  most  emphatically  in 
support  of  the  course  of  Doctor  Franklin  as  "zealous  and 
patriotic  as  it  is  wise  and  circumspect.  The  last  campaign  had 
cost  150,000,000  livres  extraordinary  and  the  next  was  expected 
to  exceed  that  sum. ' ' 


NEWPORT  TO  YORKTOWN— VICTORIOUS  OPERA- 
TIONS  OF  THE  ALLIED  ARMIES,  1781 


About  Christmas  time  the  first  floating  rumors  were  heard 
of  a  change  in  the  ministry  by  the  substitution  of  M.  de  Castries 
for  'M.  de  Sartines  as  minister  of  marine.  The  ability  of  the 
retiring  minister  as  builder  of  the  French  navy  was  universally 
conceded,  but  his  skill  in  employing  it  did  not  win  the  same 
encomiums. 

The  new  minister,  who  had  won  distinction  in  the  Seven 
Years'  War,  was  looked  to  for  great  achievements,  and  particu 
larly  in  behalf  of  French  maritime  operations  in  the  waters  of 
the  States. 

PROGRAMME    FOR    1 78 1 

The  plans  for  1781  embraced  the  siege  of  New  York  on  the 
basis  of  naval  superiority  and  an  army  of  30,000  men — about 
double  that  of  the  enemy.  The  disposition  of  events  took  a 
very  different  trend. 

The  programme,  with  the  usual  ' '  if  we  are  able  to  get  the 
force  we  count  upon,"  was  an  attack  on  the  British  works 
on  York  Island  and  those  on  Long  Island,  the  former  by 
Washington  and  the  latter  by  ROCHAMBEAU. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1781,  Benedict  Arnold,  in  the 
livery  of  England's  king,  was  dispatched  from  New  York  with 
2,000  men  to  replace  General  Leslie's  detachment  on  Elizabeth 
River,  attack  Portsmouth,  Va.,  and  to  ravage  the  regions  of  the 
James  and  the  Chesapeake,  there  being  no  other  American  forces 
in  those  sections  than  raw  militia. 

361 


362  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

The  British  squadron  maintaining  the  blockade  of  the  French 
at  Newport  were  anchored  in  Gardiners  Bay,  easj:  end  of  Long 
Island,  between  Gardiner  and  Plum  islands,  and  consisted  of  one 
ship  of  90  guns,  four  of  74,  three  of  64,  one  of  50,  and  several 
frigates. 

On  the  22d  day  of  January  a  storm  disastrous  to  their  fleet, 
especially  in  the  total  loss  of  one  and  the  dismasting  of  another 
74-gun  ship,  led  to  the  detachment,  early  in  February,  of  Lafay 
ette  from  the  main  army  at  New  Windsor  and  Morristown,  with 
a  select  corps  of  light  infantry  of  i ,  200  New  England  and  New 
Jersey  men,  to  proceed  on  the  march  to  Virginia  to  cooperate 
with  the  French  squadron,  about, to  sail,  and  General  Steuben, 
then  on  his  way  to  join  the  Continental  forces  in  the  Carolinas. 

With  the  greatest  expedition  Washington  proposed  to  Comte 
DK  ROCHAMBEAU  and  Chevalier  Destouches  cooperation  in  Vir 
ginia  with  the  entire  French  fleet  and  part  of  the  land  force. 
Before  the  receipt  of  this  proposition,  for  the  reason  that  two 
formidable  British  vessels  had  been  hurt  by  the  gale,  Destouches, 
at  the  request  of  Governor  Jefferson  of  Virginia  and  Congress, 
through  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne,  sent  a  ship  of  the  line  and 
three  frigates  to  the  Chesapeake  to  blockade  Arnold's  squadron 
and  to  cooperate  with  the  American  forces  on  land.  It  was 
known  Arnold  was  accompanied  by  but  two  4o-gun  ships  and 
a  few  smaller  craft. 

DE   TILLY   MAKES  A   CAPTURE 

This  expedition,  under  command  of  M.  de  Tilly,  left  Newport 
early  in  February,  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  offering  to  send  a 
division  from  his  force,  which,  however,  was  not  deemed  neces- 
saty,  as  the  movement  was  to  cut  off  Arnold's  communication 
by  water  and  capture  him  if  possible,  the  Continentals  and  Vir 
ginia  militia  being  thought  sufficient  on  land. 

The  fleet  a*  Gardiners  Bay  also  set  sail  and  arrived  off  the 
Capes  of  Virginia  in  advance.  Although  there  was  mutual 
surprise  when  the  two  fleets  sighted  each  other,  a  naval  combat 
ensued,  the  gallant  De  Tilly  succeeding  in  capturing  the  enemy's 
44-gun  Romulus,  two  privateers,  one  of  14  and  the  other  of  18 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  363 

guns,  seizing  four  and  burning  a  number  of  other  prizes,  and 
taking  500  prisoners.  He  would  have  captured  Arnold  but  for 
information  from  Arbuthnot  of  the  sailing  of  the  French  and 
Arnold's  escape  up  Elizabeth  River,  where  he  could  not  be  pur 
sued  for  want  of  sufficient  depth  of  water  for  the  French  vessels. 

The  experience,  however,  was  valuable,  as  it  pointed  the  way 
to  another  undertaking  on  a  more  elaborate  scale. 

The  British  ships  from  Gardiners  Bay  fared  sorely  in  their 
efforts  to  intercept  de  Tilly's  return,  two  being  driven  ashore  and 
two  others  dismasted. 

Washington  proposed  to  Count  DE  ROCHAMBKAU  to  send  a 
detachment  with  the  squadron  to  join  Lafayette  with  a  view  to 
.an  attack  upon  Arnold  at  Portsmouth,  where  he  had  taken 
refuge  after  his  handling  by  Chevalier  de  Tilley. 

EXPEDITION   AGAINST   ARNOLD   RENEWED 

Letters  captured  threw  such  a  favorable  aspect  on  affairs 
that  Destouches  determined  to  renew  the  expedition  with  his 
entire  naval  force,  as  suggested  originally  by  Washington,  the 
objective  being  to  prevent  Arnold  from  establishing  himself  at 
Portsmouth,  Va. 

At  Washington's  suggestion  of  a  cooperating  land  force, 
ROCHAMBEAU  dispatched  1,120,  embracing  all  his  grenadiers 
and  chasseurs,  commanded  by  Baron  de  Viomenil.  This  left 
ROCHAMBEAU  2,500  men  to  protect  his  transports  and  maga 
zines.  He  asked  2,000  militia  from  Rhode  Island  and  Massa 
chusetts  during  the  absence  of  the  expedition,  using  Washing 
ton's  name. 

DISPATCHES    FROM    FRANCE 

The  arrival  at  Boston  of  the  French  frigate  Astrte,  M.  de  la 
Peyrouse  commanding,  about  this  time  (February)  brought  to 
ROCHAMBEAU  the  only  dispatches  he  had  received  from  France 
since  his  landing  on  American  soil.  He  now  learned  for  an  ab 
solute  fact  there  would  be  no  second  division.  There  had  been 
a  change  in  the  ministry  of  marine  from  Sartines  to  Gastries, 
the  Queen  Empress  had  ended  her  mortal  career,  the  English 


364  Newport  to  Yorktown,  ij8i 

\ 

were  warring  on  the  Dutch,  and  France  was  preparing  to  resist 
them,  for  which  reason  fears  were  entertained  of  the  ability  of 
the  King  to  do  more  for  America. 

His  Highness,  however,  was  not  in  the  least  lukewarm,  being 
determined  to  do  the  best  in  his  power  under  the  circumstances. 
He  therefore  hastened  La  Peyrouse  to  embark  at  Brest  on  one 
of  his  fleetest  frigates  for  America,  taking  with  him  the  1,500,000 
francs  which  had  been  held  there  in  expectation  of  going  out 
with  the  promised  second  division. 

LAFAYETTE  EN  ROUTE 

The  expedition  under  Lafayette  reached  the  Head  of  Klk  in 
Maryland  on  March  3,  four  days  earlier  than  was  calculated. 
There  it  was  learned  of  the  return  of  M.  de  Tilly  to  Newport 
and  of  the  proposed  early  departure  of  another  squadron  under 
M.  Destouches  with  the  same  object  in  view. 

As  active  operations  were  impracticable  until  the  presence 
of  French  ships  in  the  bay,  leaving  his  command,  the  Marquis 
himself  proceeded  to  the  headquarters  of  Baron  Steuben  at 
Williamsburg,  Va.,  for  conference. 

From  there,  on  March  23,  he  informed  Washington  concern 
ing  his  march  and  of  the  situation. 

In  order  to  give  the  departure  of  the  French  fleet  to  the 
Chesapeake  his  personal  recognition,  Washington  determined  to 
proceed  at  once  to  Newport. 

FRENCH    HONORS    FOR    WASHINGTON 

In  furtherance  of  this  plan,  leaving  General  Heath  in  com 
mand  of  the  army  during  his  absence,  the  chief  started  from 
headquarters  on  the  2d  of  March  and  reached  Conanicut  at 
2  p.  m.  on  the  6th.  Here  he  found  the  French  admiral's 
barge  awaiting  him,  in  which  he  was  conveyed  to  the  Due 
de  Boiirgogne,  flagship.  There  were  assembled  ROCHAMBEAU 
and  Destouches  and  the  general  officers  of  the  army  and  com 
modores  and  captains  of  the  fleet.  To  give  eclat  to  the  scene 
the  grenadiers  of  Regiment  Bourbonnais,  with  De  Viomenil  at 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  365 

their  head,  were  already  aboard,  having  embarked  earlier  in  the 
day.  After  an  interchange  of  compliments  and  hospitalities,  the 
chief  left  the  flagship  for  the  shore,  being  honored  by  a  salute 
as  he  went  over  the  side.  Landing  at  Barney  Ferry  (Long 
Wharf  and  Washington  street),  he  was  met  by  French  officers 
and  escorted  to  the  headquarters  of  ROCHAMBEAU  (Clarke 
street),  where  he  was  greeted  with  all  the  consideration  due  a 
marshal  of  France.  The  route  of  his  progress  was  marked  by 
French  troops  three  lines  deep  on  either  side,  which  gave  the 
entire  army,  rank  and  file,  an  opportunity  to  see  him  whom 
their  officers  lauded  as  the  ' '  strongest  support  of  liberty. ' ' 

NEWPORT   HOSPITALITIES 

The  same  evening  the  fleet  in  the  harbor,  the  troops  on  board 
and  in  full  equipment  for  sea,  and  the  houses  on  shore  were 
illuminated.  There  was  also  a  grand  parade  led  by  30  youths, 
each  bearing  a  candle  on  a  staff,  followed  by  Washington  and 
ROCHAMBEAU,  attended  by  their  aids  and  officers,  and  all  of 
Newport  capable  of  being  in  line.  After  passing  through  the 
main  thoroughfares,  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU,  with  the 
general  officers,  returned  to  the  French  headquarters. 

As  the  chief  was  there  on  business  he  gave  the  more  impor 
tant  matters  his  first  attention.  He  again  had  an  interview 
with  Destouches.  The  land  forces  had  embarked  and  the  fleet 
was  ready  to  weigh  anchor. 

The  prospects  were  bright.  Therefore  the  commander  in 
chief  was  in  an  excellent  frame  of  mind  to  participate  in  the 
functions  the  people  had  arranged  for  him.  On  the  evening  of 
his  arrival,  as  has  been  said,  Newport  was  illuminated  in  his 
honor.  The  next  night  a  grand  ball  was  given  him  by  the 
leading- citizens. 

DESTOUCHES   OFF    FOR   THE    CHESAPEAKE 

The  following  day  (March  8)  Destouches  sailed  out  of  Nar- 
ragansett  waters  with  eight  ships  of  the  line,  including  the 
captured  Britisher  Romulus,  and  a  detail  of  ROCHAMBEAU'S  best 


366 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  ij8i 


troops  (1,000  infantry  and  150  artillery)  under  Baron  de  Vio- 
menil,  with  mortars  and  howitzers  and  a  full  field  equipment. 
The  sailing  was  witnessed  by  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU, 
Major-General  Howe,  and  the  French  general  officers. 

The  French  fleet  having  sailed,  Washington  turned  his  atten 
tion  to  arranging  with  ROCHAMBEAU  the  campaign  of  the  year 
as  far  as  the  situation  and  means  at  hand  would  permit. 

ROCHAMBEAU' s  EFFECTIVES 

The  return  showed  the  physical  condition  of  the  French 
auxiliary  army  for  the  military  operations  of  the  year  as  follows: 

General  situation  of  the  army  under  the  orders  of  Count  de  Rochambeau 
for  the  period  to  March  7,  1781. 


REGIMENTS. 

Affective  force  on  February  28. 

Rengag£s. 

Present, 
officers 
and  men 
of  all 
arms. 

Detaches. 

Hospitals. 

Total. 

Newport. 

Provi 
dence. 

Bourbonnais  
Soissonnais       

852 
971 
882 
912 
404 

21 

24 

330 
212 

38 

2 

32 
16 
26 

914 

995 
911 

933 
413 
23 
26 

355 
233 

2 

i 

Saintonge  

i 

Deux-Ponts 

Artillerie 

9 

2 



Mineurs 

Ouvriers  
Voltigeurs  de  I<auzun 
a  Newport  
Hussards  De  I,auzan 
a  Lebanon  

2 

12 
15 

12 

6 

4,396 
4,608 

§ 

118 
124 

i 
i 

4,570 
4,803 

3 
3 

During  this  period  the  casualties  were  but  7,  no  deaths,  and 
but  2  desertions. 

In  a  dispatch  from  Newport,  March  8,  Washington  apprised 
Lafayette  of  the  departure  of  the  fleet  that  evening  with  a  fair 
wind.  The  British  followed  with  their  whole  sailing  force  at 
Gardiners  Bay  the  next  morning. 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  367 

VIRGINIA    INSTEAD    OF    NEW    YORK 

To  General  Phillips  was  intrusted  the  command  of  the  British 
detachment  sent  to  reenforce  Arnold,  the  whole  to  act  in  concert 
with  Cornwallis. 

The  latter  suggested  to  Clinton  to  make  the  Chesapeake  the 
theater  of  war,  even  to  the  abandonment  of  New  York.  The 
subjugation  of  Virginia  was  regarded  as  precedent  to  a  perma 
nent  hold  on  the  Carolinas. 

The  general  in  chief  remained  in  Newport  several  days,  hav 
ing  frequent  meetings  with  ROCHAMBEAU  and  his  officers,  and 
mingling  freely  with  the  citizens. 

PARTING   PARADE 

He  parted  from  his  French  hosts  with  the  same  honors 
accorded  on  his  arrival.  The  entire  French  army  was  paraded 
on  Broad  street,  their  length  of  line  extending  beyond  the  town 
limits.  All  general  officers  held  position  in  the  center.  As  the 
American  commander  in  chief  passed  down  the  line  the  highest 
honors  known  to  the  Articles  of  War  were  bestowed  upon  him, 
including  13  guns  from  the  French  artillery. 

He  left  with  citizens  several  written  expressions  of  approbation 
of  their  patriotism,  and  appreciation  of  their  esteem. 

In  one  of  these  he  said: 

Among  the  distinguished  honors  which  have  a  claim  to  my  gratitude 
since  my  arrival,  I  have  seen  with  peculiar  satisfaction  those  effusions  of 
esteem  and  attachment  which  have  manifested  themselves  in  the  citizens 
of  this  ancient  town.  My  happiness  is  complete  in  a  moment  that  unites 
the  expressions  of  their  sentiments  for  me  with  their  suffrages  in  favor  of 
our  allies.  The  conduct  of  the  French  army  and  fleet,  of  which  the  in 
habitants  testify  so  gratefully  and  in  so  effectual  a  sense,  at  the  same  time 
that  it  evinces  the  wisdom  of  the  commanders  and  the  discipline  of  the 
troops  is  a  new  proof  of  the  magnanimity  of  the  nation.  It  is  a  further 
demonstration  of  that  generous  zeal  and  concern  for  the  happiness  of 
America,  which  brought  them  to  our  assistance,  a  happy  presage  of  future 
harmony,  a  pleasing  evidence  that  an  intercourse  between  the  two  nations 
will  more  and  more  cement  the  union  by  the  solid  and  lasting  ties  of 
mutual  affection. 


368  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

HONORS   IN   PROVIDENCE 

At  the  conclusion  of  his  stay  in  Newport  the  General  left  for 
Providence,  on  the  way  passing  through  Bristol  and  Warren. 
His  greeting  in  the  ' '  Providence  Plantations ' '  consisted  of  two 
days'  military  honors,  an  illumination,  a  public  dinner,  a  grand 
ball,  and  public  addresses. 

Upon  leaving,  the  chief,  greatly  to  the  delight  of  the  inhabi 
tants,  said: 

I  am  deeply  penetrated  with  the  demonstrations  of  attachment  which 
I  have  experienced  from  the  inhabitants  of  this  town. 

And  gave  special  emphasis  to— 

the  determination  you  are  pleased  to  express  of  making  every  effort  for 
giving  vigor  to  our  military  operations  is  consonant  with  the  spirit  that 
has  uniformly  actuated  this  State.  It  is  by  this  disposition  alone  that  we 
can  hope  under  the  protection  of  Heaven  to  secure  the  important  blessings 
for  which  we  contend. 

Washington  returned  to  his  headquarters  after  an  absence  of 
nineteen  days. 

DESTOUCHES   THE    VICTOR 

In  the  meantime  Graves,  who  had  refitted,  put  to  sea  on  March 
10,  accompanied  by  Hood.  The  spring  equinoctials  were  on 
in  full  blast.  Both  fleets,  although  in  the  open  at  the  same 
time,  had  all  they  could  do  to  combat  the  onslaughts  of  the 
weather. 

The  fleets  were  of  about  equal  measure — eight  line  of  battle 
ships  and  three  frigates  each,  but  Graves  had  the  preponderance 
of  guns.  He  hoisted  his  war  flag  on  the  London,  a  three-decker, 
whereas  Destouches  flew  his  from  the  captured  British  frigate 
Romulus,  of  less  fighting  capacity.  They  came  together  on 
March  16. 

No  time  was  lost  in  fanciful  tactics.  Decks  were  cleared  for 
action  and  both  sides  proceeded  to  business  without  ceremony. 
The  four  vessels  at  the  head  of  Destouches  battle  line  at  once 
engaged  the  four  frigates  of  Graves  nearest  at  hand. 

The  Conquerant,  M.  de  laGrandiere,  fos.  Jason,  M.  de  Marigny, 
and  Ardent,  La  Clochetterie,  fought  heroically  for  the  glory  of 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  369 

France  and  success  of  the  States.  The  conflict  was  obstinate 
and  bloody.  Three  of  the  English  vessels,  roughly  battered, 
were  put  completely  out  of  the  fight  with  serious  loss.  Two 
of  the  French  vessels  also  sustained  more  or  less  injury,  the 
Conquerant  having  her  rudder  shot  away. 

Destouches,  in  for  another  test  of  seamanship  and  gunnery, 
swinging  around  to  bring  up  once  more  in  fighting  formation, 
found  Graves  making  head  to  the  leeward  in  all  haste  to  avoid 
being  cut  off  in  an  attempt  to  get  inside  the  Chesapeake  capes. 

The  enemy  declined  a  renewal  of  the  fight,  and  the  imprac 
ticability  of  successful  pursuit  in  the  contracted  waters  of  the 
bay  being  manifest,  Destouches  had  no  choice.  Therefore, 
taking  the  Conquerant  in  tow,  and  the  wounded  commander,  the 
brave  Marquis  de  L,avel  of  Bourbonnais,  on  board  his  own  ship, 
he  convoyed  De  Viomenil,  who  had  lost  7  killed  and  29  wounded 
of  his  regiment,  and  his  transports. 

The  French  were  back  at  Newport  March  26,  having  been 
absent  18  days.  The  result  was  highly  honorable  to  the  French, 
but  the  British  fleet  secured  entrance  to  the  bay  and  Phillips 
reenforced  Arnold  with  3,000  men. 

In  a  letter  of  April  3  Washington  sent  to  ROCHAMBEAU 
an  account  given  by  the  enemy  of  the  action  of  March  16, 
observing — 

From  his  avowal  three  of  his  vessels  were  entirely  disabled,  and  as  they 
had  no  advantage,  as  they  are  always  disposed  to  make  it  appear  that  they 
have,  it  is  evidently  their  inside  view  that  they  have  not  much  to  glorify 
about. 

APPRECIATION   OF   CONGRESS 

The  Congress  of  the  United  States  directed  its  President— 

to  transmit  to  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  their  thanks  and  also  to  Chevalier 
Destouches  and  to  the  officers  and  seamen  under  his  orders,  for  their 
bravery,  firmness,  and  fine  conduct  *  *  •  *  so  courageously  and  advan 
tageously  maintained  off  the  capes  of  the  Chesapeake  against  a  superior 
squadron  of  the  enemy,  doing  honor  to  the  arms  of  His  Most  Christian 
Majesty  and  a  happy  presage  of  decisive  advantage  for  the  United  States. 

S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 24 


370  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

The  action  cost  France  a  number  of  men.  The  losses  reported 
were:  Six  killed  and  5  wounded  on  the  Due  de  Bourgogne  (flag 
ship);  51  killed  and  41  wounded  on  the  Conquerant;  19  killed 
and  35  wounded  on  the  Ardent;  5  killed  and  i  wounded  on  the 
Jason;  4  killed  and  2  wounded  on  the  Neptune;  2  killed  and  i 
wounded  on  the  Romulus;  i  killed  and  3  wounded  on  the  Eveille, 
and  i  killed  and  7  wounded  on  the  Provence. 

The  Eveille,  M.  de  la  Villebrune  commanding,  was  particu 
larly  distinguished.  A  British  ship  of  the  line,  98  guns, 
attempting  to  cut  the  French  formation  between  the  Romulus 
and  Eveille,  the  commander  of  the  latter  vessel,  which  had 
but  64  guns,  held  to  the  wind  and  sent  his  broadside  to  the 
approaching  vessel  at  three  points,  receiving  all  of  the  enemy's 
in  return.  Had  this  fire  been  well  directed  it  would  have  sent 
the  Eveille' s  colors  down,  in  view  of  the  small  distance  which 
separated  them.  But  for  the  gallantry  of  this  bold  maneuver 
the  English  would  have  cut  the  line  of  the  French  ships. 

While  these  events  were  transpiring  on  the  coasts  of  America, 
Count  de  Grasse,  March  22,  sailed  out  of  Brest.  The  ship 
yards  of  that  famous  port  and  of  Toulon  and  Rochefort  in 
three  years  had  constructed  and  made  ready  for  sea  more  than 
20  ships  of  the  line.  Some  of  these  new  ships  sailed  under 
D'Estaing.  De  Grasse  had  under  his  orders  26  vessels  and 
some  frigates. 

It  was  his  orders  to  proceed  to  the  Antilles,  thence  along  the 
coast  from  south  to  north,  between  Savannah  and  Rhode  Island, 
along  the  shores  of  the  United  States,  and  give  to  the  army 
of  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU  all  the  assistance  possible, 
retaining,  however,  the  right  to  exercise  his  judgment.  He 
was  to  rally-  the  fleet  of  Destouches,  of  which  Count  de  Barras 
was  to  take  command. 

LAFAYETTE    MOVES   SOUTHWARD 

On  April  8  Lafayette  was  again  at  Elk  from  his  conference 
with  Steuben.  Here  he  received  orders  from  Washington  to 
continue  his  march  south. 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  371 

On  April  13  he  crossed  the  Susquehanna  and  on  the  i8th 
was  at  Baltimore.  On  the  23d  he  reached  Alexandria,  Va. , 
and  was  at  Richmond  the  2gth,  where  he  was  joined  by  the 
Continental  forces  under  Steuben  and  Muhleiiberg  arid  the  Vir 
ginia  militia  under  Nelson. 

As  early  as  this  Washington  had  a  premonition  of  the  possi 
bility  of  a  transfer  of  his  field  of  operations  to  the  south.  In  a 
letter  of  the  2 1  st  of  that  month  he  gave  Lafayette  the  option  to 
go  on  with  his  movement  or  turn  over  his  command  to  another 
and  return  to  him  at  general  headquarters,  but  intimated  if  he 
should  resolve  to  go  forward  there  would  be  one  consolation — 
the  fact  that  the  aspect  of  things%made  it  most  probable  the 
weight  of  the  campaign  would'  be  in  the  south,  when  it  would 
become  his  duty  to  go  there  in  person,  adding,  "of  this  I  would 
not  have  you  say  anything. ' ' 

A  FLURRY  BETWEEN  THE  CHIEFS 

At  this  time  an  intercepted  private  letter  of  Washington 
to  Lund  Washington,  his  kinsman  and  agent  at  Mount  Vernon, 
made  public  in  the  Tory  Gazette  in  New  York  April  4, 
created  considerable  consternation.  Seeming  to  reflect  upon 
the  French  operations,  it  gave  rise  to  considerable  interpolation, 
particularly  the  declaration — with  the  parenthetical  observa 
tions,  "but  this  I  mention  in  confidence,"  that — 

It  was  unfortunate  the  French  fleet  and  detachment  did  not  undertake  the 
enterprise  they  are  now  upon  when  I  first  proposed  it  to  them.  The 
destruction  of  Arnold's  corps  would  then  have  been  inevitable  before  the 
British  could  have  put  to  sea.  Instead  of  this  the  small  squadron  which 
took  the  Romulus  and  other  small  vessels  was  sent,  and  could  not,  as  I 
foretold,  do  anything  without  a  land  force  at  Portsmouth. 

The  slip  gave  the  general  deep  concern  and  occasion  for 
lengthy  comment  in  a  letter  (April  21)  to  Lafayette,  his  ever 
ready  and  confidential,  counselor  in  many  delicate  situations. 
He  was  able  neither  to  avow  the  letter  as  published  nor  declare 
it  spurious,  as- no  copy  was  taken.  His  remembrance  was  his 
chagrin  upon  receiving  his  own  (Lafayette's)  letter  (March 


372  Newport  to  Yorktoivn,  1781 

15)  from  Yorktown,  in  Virginia,  that  the  French  fleet  had  not 
appeared — 

within  the  capes  of  the  Chesapeake,  and  intended  to  express  in  confi 
dence  his  apprehension  and  concern  for  the  delay. 

He  intimated  he  would  not  be  surprised  if  the  ' '  inspectors ' ' 
of  the  Royal  Gazette  at  New  York  had  taken  liberties  with  the 
text  as  they  had  in  publishing  a  letter  from  himself  to  Gov 
ernor  Hancock,  and  his  reply  which  never  had  an  existence  but 
in  the  Gazette.  That  they  were  not  less  capable  of  the  same 
now,  he  thought,  few  would  deny;  though  his  (Rivington's) 
friends  do  not  want  to  convict  him  of  falsehood,  and  ours 
(Washington's)  had  not  the*  opportunity  of  doing  it,  as  both 
sides  knew  his  talents  for  lying.' 

The  Count  DK  ROCHAMBEAU  took  an  early  opportunity  (April 
26)  to  bring  the  extract  from  the  published  letter  referred  to 
to  the  notice  of  Washington  with  this  comment: 

If  this  was  really  written  by  your  excellency,  I  shall  beg  leave  to  observe 
that  the  result  of  this  reflection  would  seem  to  be  that  we  have  had  here 
the  choice  of  two  expeditions  proposed,  and  that  we  have  preferred  the  less 
to  a  more  considerable  undertaking,  which  your  excellency  desired.  If 
such  is  the  meaning,  I  beg  your  excellency  to  call  to  mind  that  the  line  of 
battle  ship  and  the  two  frigates  went  out  of  Newport  on  the  gth  of  Febru 
ary  on  a  demand  made  by  Congress  and  the  State  of  Virginia  to  the  Cheva 
lier  Destouches;  that  your  letter  with  the  plan  for  the  going  out  of  the 
whole  fleet  with  a  detachment  of  1,000  Frenchmen  to  act  conjointly  with 
the  Marquis  de  Lafayette  bears  date  of  the  I5th;  that  I  did  not  receive  it 
till  the  i gth;  that  having  given  an  instant  communication  of  it  to  M.  Des 
touches,  I  had  the  honor  on  the  2oth  to  send  his  answer  to  your  excellency, 
and  that  no  later  than  the  day  after  the  gale  of  wind  which  weakened  the 
British  fleet  toward  the  end  of  January,  I  offered  all  the  land  forces  that 
<!ould  possibly  be  transported  by  the  navy,  and  have  not  ceased  to  do  it 
since.  I  shall  not  mention  to  you  the  reasons  that  delayed  the  departure 
of  M.  Destouches's  squadron  because  they  do  not  come  under  my  cogni 
zance.  I  only  state  these  facts  to  call  to  your  mind  these  dates,  which  I 
beg  you  to  verify  by  your  correspondence  that  you  may  be  entirely  per 
suaded;  that  there  will  never  be  the  least  delay  in  wrhat  concerns  the 
troops  whom  I  command  in  the  execution  of  your  orders  as  soon  as  I  shall 
Teceive  them. 

This  straightforward  presentation  of  the  case  by  ROCHAM 
BEAU  himself,  and  so  commendatory  of  his  fealty  and  his  high 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  373 

sense  of  honor,  was  r  let  by  Washington  in  an  entirely  charac 
teristic  reply  from  his  headquarters  at  New  Windsor  (April  30), 
mentioning  his  ' '  pain  at  the  occasion  of  that  part  of  his  letter, ' ' 
and  his  unhappiness  ' '  that  an  accident  should  have  put  it  in 
the  power ' '  of  the  enemy  ' '  to  give  to  the  world  anything  from 
me  which  may  contain  an  implication  the  least  disagreeable  to 
you  or  to  the  Chevalier  Destouches. ' '  Calling  attention  to  the 
difference  between  the  extract  sent  and  the  copy  published  he 
assured  the  Count — 

Whatever  construction  it  may  bear,  I  beg  your  excellency  will  consider 
the  letter  as  private  to  a  friend,  a  gentleman  who  has  the  direction  of  my 
affairs  at  home,  totally  unconnected  with  public  affairs,  and  in  whose  dis 
cretion  I  could  absolutely  rely.  No  idea  of  the  same  kind  has  ever  gone 
to  any  public  body. 

In  admitting  the  general  import  of  the  letter  to  be  true,  this 
reply  brought  out  many  qualifying  explanatory  observations, 
particularly  facts  he  had  learned  since,  especially  that  his  pro 
posal  did  not  reach  the  Count  until  after  the  departure  of  the 
first  squadron,  concluding — 

with  this  explanation  I  leave  the  matter  to  his  candor  and  to  yours,  and 
flatter  myself  it  will  make  no  impressions  inconsistent  with  an  entire  per 
suasion  of  my  sincere  esteem  and  attachment. 

In  reply  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBKAU  expressed  his  entire  satis 
faction  with  the  proper  light  thrown  upon  the  incident  and 
hoped  it  might  be  considered  closed. 

PENOBSCOT   EXPEDITION   ABANDONED 

Destouches,  again  ready  for  sea  and  anxious  to  be  doing 
something,  listening  to  the  solicitations  of  the  merchants  and 
authorities  of  Boston  and  Massachusetts,  proposed  an  attack  on 
Penobscot,  an  isolated  British  post  of  350  men  on  the  Massa 
chusetts  (Maine)  coast  of  no  strategic  consequence,  though 
somewhat  troublesome  as  a  harbor  for  pirates. 

The  council  of  Massachusetts  had  suggested  it  as  practicable, 
during  the  absence  of  the  British  fleet  in  the  Chesapeake  sup 
porting  the  renegade  Arnold's  foray  into  Virginia.  Destouches 
accepted  the  proposition  and  agreed  to  furnish  two  frigates, 
sixty-four's,  and  other  vessels. 


374  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

The  preparations  were  underway.  About  600  land  troops 
were  offered  by  ROCHAMBEAU  with  four  mortars  and  four  24- 
pounders.  Chevalier  de  Chastellux  was  to  command  and  no 
militia  were  to  participate. 

The  views  of  Washington  on  the  subject,  communicated  to 
ROCHAMBEAU,  showed  the  general  as  adroit  with  the  pen  as 
tactful  with  the  sword.  While  disapproving  of  the  expedition 
he  couched  his  opposition  in  an  appearance  of  concurrence  of 
ROCHAMBE AU'S  thought,  if  the  stake  was  worth  the  time  and 
toil.  He  did  not  fail  to  recall  an  experience  two  years  before  of 
a  Boston  expedition  swallowed  up  in  the  treacherous  waters  of 
that  stream. 

Thus  while  approving  the  project  in  phrase,  he  gave  it  such 
doubt  by  inference  that  both  ROCHAMBEAU  and  Destouches 
promptly  abandoned  the  scheme. 

A  more  weighty  reason  for  not  embarking  in  the  undertaking 
was  the  evident  purpose  of  Clinton  to  strengthen  his  operations 
in  the  south. 

The  repairs  to  the  disabled  British  ships  were  made.  All  the 
5O-gun  frigates  which  could  be  detached  from  other  points 
were  being  concentrated  at  New  York. 

ROCHAMBEAU    AGAIN    PROPOSES   VIRGINIA 

All  indications  pointed  with  certainty  to  an  active  British 
campaign  in  Virginia.  By  thus  weakening  the  garrison  of  Newr 
York,  the  danger  to  French  ships  or  stores  at  Newport  was 
lessened. 

In  view  of  these  conditions,  ROCHAMBEAU  proposed  to  Wash 
ington  the  transfer  of  his  entire  force,  save  a  small  guard 
strengthened  by  a  sufficient  body  of  militia,  by  land  to  a  point 
on  the  Hudson  opposite  New  York,  in  order  to  enable  him  to 
strengthen  the  forces  of  Lafayette  in  Virginia. 

The  commander  in  chief  received  the  proposition  with  favor, 
and  sent  forward  a  force  from  the  Pennsylvania  line  under 
General  Wayne  to  join  Lafayette. 

In  the  meantime  Cornwallis  entered  Virginia,  uniting  his 
forces  with  those  of  Phillips  and  Arnold. 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  ij8i  375 

DE    BARRAS    ARRIVES 

Young  Rochambeau  a  arrived  at  Boston  May  8  on  the  French 
frigate  Concorde,  M.  de  Tanouarn,  commanding,  in  company 
with  M.  de  Barras,  sent  out  to  succeed  the  late  Chevalier  de 
Ternay;  also  Baron  Cromot  du  Bourg,  for  the  staff  of  ROCHAM 


The  advices  brought  gave  much  detail  of  proposed  naval 
movements,  especially  the  sailing  of  De  Grasse  with  a  convoy 
of  15  transports,  with  2  companies  of  artillery  and  690  recruits 
under  escort  of  the  Sagittaire  as  the  only  aid  then  practicable 
for  North  America. 

In  lieu,  however,  of  troops  6,000,000  livres  were  to  be  sent 
with  which  General  Washington  might  provide  for  the  wants 
of  the  American  army.  Part  of  this  was  brought  by  M.  de 
Barras  and  the  rest  was  to  arrive  by  the  Sagittaire. 

TROUBLE  OVER  THE  KING'S  BOUNTY 

This  special  bounty  of  the  French  King  came  very  nearly 
being  the  cause  of  a  serious  split  between  Congress  and 
Washington.  • 

As  the  money  brought  out  on  the  Concorde  was  designed  as  a 
special  succor  to  the  army,  it  was  proposed,  after  a  part  was  paid 
for  munitions  purchased  in  Europe,  the  rest  should  be  disbursed 
by  General  Washington  as  he  should  consider  best  for  the 
general  good. 

Having  determined  upon  this  course  Doctor  Franklin  was 
informed.  He  at  once  communicated  the  fact  to  Congress, 
where  the  suggestion  was  received  with  considerable  alarm. 

a  Rochambeau  (ttie  younger)  (Donatien  Marie  Joseph  de  Vimeur  Vicorate  de)  ki- 
herited  the  warlike  instincts  and  won  the  progressive  honors  of  rank  of  his  distin 
guished  parent  from  cornet  to  lieutenant-general.  He  was  born  at  the  family  chateau 
at  Vendome,  and  received  his  military  education  at  Brienne,  where  he  won  all  the 
prizes  for  text-book  proficiency  in  the  art  of  war.  He  accompanied  his  father  to 
America  and  bore  an  honorable  part  in  all  its  military  performances.  After  the  war, 
returning  to  France  he  fought  with  merit  under  the  great  Napoleon.  He  was  in  com 
mand  in  Santo  Domingo,  where  he  conducted  an  heroic  defense  when  besieged  by  the 
English.  Compelled  to  surrender  to  starvation  and  numbers,  in  violation  of  an  agree 
ment  to  his  return  to  France,  he  was  held  a  prisoner  in  England  for  eight  years.  At 
last  reaching  France  he  at  once  took  service  under  Napoleon,  and  two  years  later  (1813) 
fell  at  the  battle  of  Leipsic. 


376  Newport  to  York  town,  1781 

The  representatives  of  the  people,  even  thus  early  in  the 
control  of  civil  affairs,  were  decidedly  unfavorable  to  any  such 
power  being  placed  with  the  head  of  the  army,  if  even  it  were 
the  mainstay  of  the  conflict. 

The  tact  of  M.  de  la  I^uzerne,  however,  came  to  the  rescue, 
particularly  as  not  a  few  attributed  some  latent  motive  to  this 
mode  of  expenditure. 

In  a  letter  to  the  French  minister,  Count  de  Vergennes 
suggested  that  the  expenditure  to  be  -made  by  General  Wash 
ington  "or  some  other  person." 

M.  de  la  Luzerne  promptly  quieted  the  anxieties  of  Congress 
by  supplementing  this  very  important  alternate  proposition, 
which  the  venerable  "doctor  apparently  overlooked. 

It  is  recorded  Washington  very  cordially  thanked  M.  de  la 
Luzerne  for  relieving  him  from  a  very  embarrassing  position. 

INSTRUCTIONS    FROM   VERSAILLES 

The  Concorde  was  the  messenger  of  supplementary  instruc 
tions  from  the  minister  of  war,  dated  Versailles,  March  7,  to 
Comte  DE  ROCHAMBE^AU,  in  which  possible  happenings  *  in  the 
situation,  most  likely  based  upon  the  pessimistic  utterances  of 
the  late  admiral,  were  met  with  specific  directions.  Their 
intelligent  comprehension  of  conditions  and  evident  disposition 
to  stand  by  the  American  cause  and  bring  success,  if  among  the 
possibilities,  indicates  that  the  second  thought  of  the  King  was 
no  less  determined  and  devoted  than  the  first.  The  following 
is  the  text  of  this  document  so  vital  to  the  continuance  of  the 
military  phases  of  the  struggle: 

1.  It  is  the  intention  of  His  Majesty  that  you  do  not  abandon  Rhode 
Island,  if  the  squadron  destined  to  act  in  concert  with  you  for  its  defense 
can  not  retire  to  Boston  without  hazard,  or  before  it  shall  be  relieved  from 
its  defensive  position  at  Rhode  Island  by  a  superior  naval  force. 

2.  I  will  inform  you  that  in  the  month  of  July  or  August   the -superior 
naval  force  of  which  you  have  just   received  notice   will  withdraw  the 
squadron  of  M.  de  Barras  from  the  harbor  of  Rhode  Island,  and  you  wrill 
carefully  reserve  to  yourself  the  knowledge  of  this  arrangement,  which 
may  be  accelerated. 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  377 

3.  If,  by  unforeseen  events  or  any  cause  whatever,  the  army  of  Wash 
ington  should  be  broken  up  and  dispersed,  it  is  the  intention  of  the  King 
that  under  these  circumstances  you  should  decline  acceding  to  any  orders 
or  requests  of  that  general  to  penetrate  into  the  interior  of  the  continent, 
as  in  that  case  it  would  be  prudent  to  reserve  yourself  and  to  retire  to  the 
Antilles,  if  possible,  or  to  Santo  Domingo,  according  to  the  season. 

4.  If,  on  the  contrary,  the  American  army  remains  in   its  present  state, 
and  yet  without  being  able  to  undertake  any  combined  operation  with  the 
squadron,  and  if  this  latter  should  attempt  any  other  enterprise  where 
the  concurrence  of  a  certain  number  of  land  forces  would  be  required,  the 
King  leaves  it  in  your  power  to  furnish  them,  provided  that  the  plan  be 
concerted  with  the  American  general. 

5.  Should  there  be  an  opportunity  for  the  squadron  at  Rhode  Island  to 
act  independently  of  the  American  army,  you  are  aware  that  the  naval 
forces  of  the  King  should  concur  in  all  operations  which  are  considered 
advantageous  to  the  common  cause. 

6.  You  are  also  aware  that  as  long  as  the  King's  troops  occupy  Rhode 
Island  the  transports  destined  to  receive  the  troops  are  to  be  kept  there; 
when,  on  the  contrary,  the  army  under  your  command  shall  penetrate  into 
the  country  and  the  squadron  abandons  Rhode  Island,  this  squadron  will 
proceed  to  Boston  and  take  with  it  the  transports  that  have  been  retained. 

7.  If,  from  the  different  causes  mentioned,  you  should  remain  in  your 
position  at  Rhode  Island,  and  a  superior  naval  force  of  the  King  should 
withdraw  the  squadron  which  is  in  that  port,  I  give  you  notice  that  the 
Count  de  Grasse  has  orders  to  leave  with  you  two  vessels  to  defend  the 
port  and  the  transports  necessary  for  your  army. 

The  junior  Rochambeau  also  brought  to  his  father  a  con 
fidential  message,  intended  for  ROCHAMBEAU  alone,  which 
stated  that  the  Comte  de  Grasse  would  proceed  with  his  division 
to  reenforce  de  Barras.  It  was  given  out  that  when  de  Grasse 
sailed  from  Brest  he  was  heading  for  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
Another  piece  of  news  was  that  M.  de  Segur  had  succeeded 
de  Montbarry  as  secretary  of  war. 

ROCHAMBEAU   SLATED    FOR   MINISTER   OF   WAR 

And  more  interesting  than  all,  personally,  was  a  private  let 
ter  which  informed  ROCHAMBEAU  that,  had  he  been  in  France, 
the  King  would  have  appointed  him  minister  of  war. 


378  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

A   SELF-SACRIFICING    FRIEND 

The  nobility  of  soul  of  ROCHAMBEAU  here  stands  forth  in  all 
its  majesty  in  his  own  comments  on  this  incident  afterwards: 

My  ambition  never  aspired  to  such  an  important  function;  but  I  must 
confess,  when  I  reflected  on  these  scanty  resources  and  the  distressing 
predicament  to  which  I  was  reduced,  this  -was  the  only  moment  of  my 
life  I  regretted  it.  It  became  urgent,  however,  that  I  should  get  out  of 
my  present  embarrassing  situation  and  do  my  best  for  the  service  of  the 
two  nations. 

ROCHAMBEAU' s  NEW  POWERS 

The  most  important  act  of  royal  command  connected  with 
these  supplementary  instructions  to  the  French  commander  was 
the  removal  of  all  restrictions  in  the  exercise  of  his  powers  and 
granting  him  full  authority  in  the  use  of  the  French  army 
and  fleet  in  their  cooperation  with  the  American  forces  under 
orders  of  General  Washington.  ROCHAMBEAU  acted  promptly 
under  these  new  orders  from  Versailles.  The  French  army, 
practically  idle  for  nearly  a  year,  at  once  sprung  into  activity. 
Orders  were  issued  to  put  the  entire  force  in  condition  for  the 
field.  The  artillery  and  heavy  equipments  were  transferred  to 
Providence  for  security  at  a  greater  distance  from  the  coast. 
These  new  departures  came  none  too  soon.  The  morale  of  the 
officers  in  particular  began  to  show  signs  of  diminution.  The 
taciturn  methods  of  ROCHAMBEAU  were  construed  into  a  lack 
of  confidence.  An  immediate  conference  with  the  commander 
in  chief  was  therefore  of  necessity  to  ROCHAMBEAU. 

On  May  8,  immediately  upon  receiving  information  of  De 
Barras's  arrival,  the  Count  in  apprising  Washington  expressed 
the  opinion  ' '  as  soon  as  we  have  received  our  dispatches  we 
should  have  a  conference  with  your  excellency. ' '  He  promised 
further  advices  by  the  next  express,  but  suggested  to  him  to 
fix  a  place  for  the  meeting. 

By  way  of  information  he  wrote — 

the  commodore  is  about  60  years  of  age,  a  particular  friend  of  Comte 
d'Estaing,  and  commanded  his  vangard  when  he  forced  the  entrance  of 
this  harbor. 


Newport  to  Yorktoiun,  1781  379 

DK    BARRAS    REPORTS 

On  May  1 1  from  Newport  De  Barras a  reported  his  arrival  to 
Washington  in  the  following  gratifying  form: 

I  have  the  honor  to  announce  to  your  excellency  my  ariival  at  Boston  on 
the  6th  of  this  month  in  the  frigate  Concorde,  the  King  having  appointed 
me  to  the  command  of  his  squadron  in  these  seas.  I  arrived  here  yester 
day.  The  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  has  communicated  to  me  the  letter 
which  he  had  the  honor  to  write  to  your  excellency  requesting  an  inter 
view.  When  he  shall  receive  your  answer  we  will  conform  to  your  deci 
sion.  I  am  very  impatient  to  have  the  .honor  of  making  an  acquaintance 
with  you,  and  to  assure  you  that  I  have  nothing  so  much  at  heart  as  to 
render  myself  serviceable  to  the  King  and  to  the  United  States. 

WASHINGTON    CONGRATULATES 

In  reply  (May  14)  Washington  extended  his  congratulations 
and  the  degree  of  pleasure  it  gave  him  to  find — 

the  command  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty's  fleet  devolved  upon  an 
officer  of  his  excellency's  distinguished  character. 

nComte  TyOuis  de  Barras,  St.  L,aurent,  was  born  in  Provence,  the  same  as  was  his 
companion  of  the  sea  De  Gfasse.  He  was  60  years  of  age  when  he  succeeded  to  the 
naval  command  which  had  left  France  under  De  Ternay.  His  first  noticeable  act  was 
leading  the  van  of  D'Estaing's  fleet  in  forcing  the  harbor  of  Newport  in  July,  1778,  and 
again  in  his  operations  on  the  Georgia  coast  in  October,  1779.  He  sailed  from  Brest  on 
March  22,  1781,  on  the  Concorde  of  the  fleet  of  De  Grasse.  Although  his  junior  in  rank, 
De  Grasse  was  at  the  head  of  the  expedition  with  the  provisional  rank  of  lieutenant- 
general.  About  seven  days  out  (March  29)  De  Barras  left  the  fleet,  taking  his  course 
for  Boston  where  he  arrived  May  6,  and  proceeding  to  Newport  hoisted  his  pennant  on 
the  Due  de  Bourgogne.  Although  invited,  he  was  unable  to  participate  in  the  Wethers- 
field  conference  owing  to  the  appearance  of  the  enemy's  fleet  as  he  was  about  to  depart 
on  the  journey.  He  cooperated  in  the  plans  of  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU,  but 
within  the  strict  construction  of  his  orders  from  Versailles.  De  Grasse  gave  him  free 
scope  in  his  discretion,  which  he  sometimes  exercised  seemingly  contrary  to  the  views  of 
ROCHAMBEAU  and  Washington's  expressed  wishes.  On  August  25,  however,  he  waived 
all  questions  of  rank,  sailing  for  the  Chesapeake  with  his  fleet  and  joined  De  Grasse  who 
had  just  rounded  up  the  British  fleet  of  Graves.  De  Barras  signed  the  capitulation  of 
Cornwallis  on  behalf  of  De  Barras  and  himself.  He  sailed  for  the  West  Indies  with  De 
Grasse,  where  he  had  the  first  opportunity  to  distinguish  himself,  which  he  did  in  the 
two  days'  fight,  in  January,  1782,  with  Hood,  under  the  guns  of  St.  Christopher,  and  was 
assigned  to  take  possession  of  the  two  captured  British  islands  of  St.  Nevis  and  Mont- 
serrat.  He  fortunately  escaped  De  Grasse's  misfortune  with  Rodney,  in  April  of  the 
same  year,  having  sailed  for  France.  In  1782  he  was  made  vice-admiral  and  retired  the 
next  year  after  the  signing  of  peace.  He  died  before  the  outbreak  of  the  revolution  of 
1789.  He  was  a  man  of  lovable  characteristics,  a  thorough  disciplinarian,  and  faithful 
friend.  His  death  was  lamented  by  the  heroic  armies  of  France  and  America. 


380  Newport  to  Yorktown,  ij8i 

He  also  named  Monday,  May  20,  of  which  he  had  advised 
General  ROCHAMBEAU,  for  an  interview  at  Wethersfield, 
Conn.,  where — 

I  shall   very  impatiently  wait   for   the   opportunity  of   convincing  you 
personally  that  I  am,  etc. 

THE   CHIEFS   MEET 

On  the  iyth  Washington  informed  the  President  of  Congress 
of  the  receipt  of  dispatches  from  the  Court  of  France,  by  the 
frigate  Concorde,  by  Comte  'DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  and  of  his 
request  for  an  interview,  which  he  had  granted  at  Wethers- 
field  the  following  Monday,  for  which  place  he  would  set  out 
on  the  1 8th.  He  \vas  in  hopes  from  the  intelligence  received 
of  being  able  to  settle  a  definite  plan  of  campaign. 

Accordingly  on  the  day  mentioned  Washington  left  his 
camp  at  New  Windsor,  accompanied  by  General  Knox,  his  chief 
of  artillery,  and  General  Duportail,  the  distinguished  French 
soldier,  his  chief  engineer,  and  the  same  night  was  43  miles 
from  Fishkill  Landing. 

The  next  day  (igth)  he  breakfasted  at  lyitchfield,  dined  at 
Farmington,  and  lodged  the  same  night  at  Wethersfield. 

The  20th,  awaiting  the  arrival  of  General  ROCHAMBEAU, 
was  passed  in  conference  with  Connecticut's  war  governor, 
Jonathan  Trumbull,  respecting  the  probability  of  receiving  the 
necessary  cooperation  of  the  States.  The  governor  assured 
the  general  if  any  important  offensive  operation  should  be 
undertaken  he  had  little  doubt  of  obtaining  adequate  men  and 
provisions. 

Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  arrived  at  noon  on  the  2ist,  accom 
panied  by  Chevalier  de  Chastellux,  one  of  the  finest  officers  of 
his  corps,  who  took  the  place  of  Admiral  de  Barras,  detained 
on  account  of  the  sudden  appearance  of  the  English  fleet  off 
Block  Island.  The  event  was  celebrated  in  Hartford  by  a  salute 
of  cannon  and  the  serving  of  refreshments,  after  which  the  two 
generals  and  their  suites,  attended  by  a  party  of  gentlemen  as 
escort  of  honor,  were  accompanied  to  the  place  of  meeting. 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  381 

WETHERSFIELD    CONFERENCE 

The  commander  in  chief  and  commandant-general  of  the 
allies  held  their  conference  on  May  22  at  Wethersfield,  Conn., 
as  arranged. 

The  exchange  of  views  was  had  in  the  form  of  queries  sub 
mitted  by  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  and  answered  in  writing  by 
General  Washington.  The  substance,  as  given,  throws  much 
detail  on  events  preceding  the  march  of  the  two  armies  to  the 
scene  of  the  surrender  of  the  last  organized  force  of  British 
troops  of  any  consequence  in  the  field  on  American  soil. 

Rochambeau. — Concerning  a  project  of  employing  the  squadron  at  New 
port  to  transport  the  French  army  to  Chesapeake  Bay  he  consulted 
Count  de  Barras,  who  deemed  it  impracticable,  chiefly  on  account  of  the 
inferiority  of  his  naval  force  to  that  of  the  enemy.  The  objections-were 
mentioned  in  detail. 

Washington. — However  desirable  such  an  event  might  have  been, 
the  reasons  assigned  by  Count  de  Barras  are  sufficient  to  prove  its 
impracticability. 

Rochambeau. — Should  the  French  army  march  to  the  North  River,  will 
the  squadron  be  safe  at  Newport  under  a  guard  of  militia  ?  By  his  secret 
instructions  he  is  not  permitted  to  separate  his  army,  except  for  detach 
ment  of  a  short  duration.  Count  de  Barras  thinks  the  squadron  would 
not  be  secure  if  the  enemy  should  take  possession  of  Rhode  Island,  and, 
moreover,  he  has  been  instructed  that  in  case  the  army  should  march 
into  the  country  his  fleet  should  proceed  to  Boston. 

Washington. — It  is  General  Washington's  opinion  that  the  plan  of  the 
campaign  is  for  the  French  army  to  march  from  Newport  toward  the  North 
River  as  soon  as  possible,  and  that  consequently  it  will  be  advisable  for 
the  Count  de  Barras  (agreeably  to  his  instructions  in  that  case  provided) 
to  seek  the  first  favorable  moment  of  removing  the  squadron  under  his 
command  to  Boston. 

Rochambeau. — In  that  case  what  does  General  Washington  propose 
about  Rhode  Island?  Does  he  intend  it  should  be  kept  by  a  general 
officer  and  a  body  of  American  militia?  It  is  to  be  observed  that  if  in  the 
hurricane  months  the  French  fleet  should  come  to  the  coast  the  harbor 
of  Rhode  Island  might  be  of  use  to  the  operations  of  the  squadrons,  either 
for  a  union  to  act  against  New  York  or  as  a  place  of  retreat  in  case  of 
misfortune. 

Washington. — As  the  harbor  of  Rhode  Island  may  be  useful  to  the  fleets 
of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty,  it  is  General  Washington's  opinion  that  a 
force  should  be  left  for  the  security  of  Newport ;  but  as  the  enemy  will 
not  be  in  a  condition,  from  the  present  circumstances  of  their  affairs,  to 


382  Newport  to  York  town,  1781 

detach  any  considerable  body  of  men  to  repossess  the  island,  it  is  agreed 
between  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  and  General  Washington  that  500  militia, 
under  a  good  officer,  will  be  sufficient  as  a  guard  for  the  works ;  but  in 
*  case  of  an  enterprise  against  them  a  greater  force  should  be  called  in  for 
their  defense. 

Rochambeau . — If  General  Washington  resolves  that  Rhode  Island  shall 
be  left  and  the  works  destroyed,  does  he  consider  the  siege  artillery, 
powder,  magazines,  and  heavy  stores,  which  can  not  follow  the  French 
army  in  a  land  march,  as  safe  at  Providence  under  200  French  troops  and 
the  militia?  For  such  an  object  the  English  may  attempt  an  enterprise 
to  seize  these  stores.  Would  they  not  be  more  secure  if  taken  with  the 
fleet  to  Boston  ? 

Washington. — In  the  former  communications  between  Count  DE  RO 
CHAMBEAU  and  General  Washington  it  was  understood  that  the  French 
fleet  was  to  remain  in  the  harbor  of  Newport  after  the  removal  of  the  army  ; 
and  therefore  Providence  was  fixed  upon  as  a  safe  and  proper  deposit  for 
the  heavy  artillery  and  spare  stores.  It  now  being  determined  that  the 
fleet  shall  embrace  the  first  opportunity  of  going  round  to  the  harbor  of 
Boston,  it  is  to  be  wished  that  the  heavy  artillery  and  spare  stores  should 
be  sent  round  also.  But  General  Washington  being  informed  by  Count 
DE  ROCHAMBEAU  that  they  have  been  already  deposited  at  Providence, 
and  that  it  will  be  impossible,  under  the  present  circumstances  of  the 
fleet  and  want  of  transportation,  to  remove  them  to  Boston,  he  is  of  opinion 
that  they  may  safely  remain  there  under  the  guard  of  200  French  troops, 
who  will  be  aided  by  the  militia  of  the  country  in  case  of  need.  The 
possession  of  Newport  will  add  to  their  security. 

Rochambeau. — Should  the  squadron  from  the  West  Indies  arrive  in  these 
seas,  an  event  that  will  probably  be  announced  by  a  frigate  beforehand, 
what  operations  will  General  Washington  have  in  view  after  a  union  of 
the  French  army  with  his  own? 

Washington. — The  enemy,  by  several  detachments  from  New  York, 
having  reduced  their  force  at  that  post  to  less  than  one-half  of  the  num 
ber  which  they  had  at  the  time  of  the  former  conference  at  Hartford  in 
September  last,  it  is  thought  advisable  to  form  a  junction  of  the  French 
and  American  armies  upon  the  North  River  as  soon  as  possible,  and  move 
down  to  the  vicinity  of  New  York,  to  be  ready  to  take  advantage  of  any 
opportunity  which  the  weakness  of  the  enemy  may  afford.  Should  the 
West  India  fleet  arrive  upon  the  coast,  the  force  thus  combined  may 
either  proceed  in  the  operations  against  New  York  or  may  be  directed 
against  the  enemy  in  some  other  quarter,  as  circumstances  shall  dictate. 
The  great  waste  of  men,  which  we  have  found  from  experience  in  the  long 
marches  to  the  southern  States,  the  advanced  season  in  which  such  a 
march  must  be  commenced,  and  the  difficulties  and  expense  of  land  trans 
portation  thither,  with  other  considerations  too  well  known  to  Count  DE 


Newport  to  York  town,  1781  383 

ROCHAMBEAU  to  need  detailing,  point  out  the  preference  which  an 
operation  against  New  York  seems  to  have  in  the  present  circumstances 
over  an  attempt  to  send  a  force  to  the  southward. 

TELLTALE    CORRESPONDENCE 

While  the  conference  was  on,  General  Washington  was  handed 
a  packet  containing  two  letters  which  had  been  captured  by  an 
American  privateer  from  Lord  Germaine,  British  minister  of 
war,  to  General  Clinton,  which  revealed  the  purpose  of  the 
British  campaign  of  that  year  to  conquer  the  whole  south  and 
confine  Washington  to  the  north  of  the  Hudson  River. 

It  may  be  said  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU  had  no  little 
amusement  over  the  contemptuous  reference  of  Germaine,  who 
had  been  cashiered  for  cowardice  in  the  Seven  Years'  War,  to 
the  American  forces,  and  upbraiding  Clinton  in  that  — 

he  had  said  there  were  in  the  King's  service  more  American  royalists  than 
rebels  in  Washington's  army  and  it  was  very  extraordinary  he  should  let 
the  rebellion  last  so  long. 

He  hit  at  the  French  corps  by  conveying  the  information 
which  had  been  confirmed  in  advance  by  young  Rochambeau 
( '  that  no  preparations  were  being  made  in  France  to  send  out 
the  second  division,"  and  "the  first  would  have  quite  enough 
to  do  to  uphold  and  protect  its  little  squadron  at  Newport." 

ROCHAMBEAU,  in  continuing  the  story,  adds  this  interesting 
contributory  information: 

Germaine  did  not  forget  to  observe  the  precarious  state  of  the  finances 
of  Congress,  and  in  this  his  calculations  were  so  near  the  truth  that  at 
the  period  at  which  the  conference  took  place  at  Wethersfield  the  paper 
currency  after  having  been  reduced  to  as  low  as  1,000  to  I  was  at  length 
completely  "  annulled  "  by  resolution  of  Congress. 

Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  among  his  papers  referring  to  this 
conference  says  that  Washington  had  dominant  in  his  thoughts 
an  expedition  against  New  York  as  the  most  effectual  way  to 
deal  a  death  blow  to  British  power  in  America,  his  hope  of 
success  resting  on  the  diminution  of  the  garrisons  by  drafts  for 
the  south. 


384  Newport  to  York  town,  1781 

In  the  Count's  own  words — 

He  considered  an  expedition  against  Lord  Cornwallis  in  Chesapeake  Bay 
quite  a  secondary  object  to  which  there  was  no  necessity  of  our  diverting 
our  attention  until  we  were  quite  certain  of  our  inability  to  accomplish  the 
former. 

The  two  generals  finally  agreed  that,  as  soon  as  the  recruits 
of  the  convoy  of  the  Sagittaire  arrived,  the  French  auxiliary 
corps  should  unite  with  the  American  army  opposite  New  York 
Island. 

After  effecting  a  junction  it  was  proposed  to  advance  as  close 
as  possible  and  take  up  a  defensive  position,  awaiting  news 
from  Comte  de  Grasse.  A  frigate  from  De  Barf  as' s  fleet  at 
Newport  was  to  be  dispatched  immediately  for  that  purpose. 

The  letter  of  Washington  to  General  Sullivan,  then  in  Con 
gress,  informing  him  of  this  plan  was  intercepted.  It  was 
charged  that  Washington  had  sent  this  communication  with 
the  intention  of  having  it  fall  into  British  hands  and  thus  mis 
lead  General  Clinton. 

Here,  again,  stands  out  in  bold  relief  the  greatness  of 
ROCHAMBKAU.  Said  he  in  after  years:  "There  is  no  need  of 
such  fiction  to  convey  to  posterity  the  glory  of  \hisgreat  man. 
His  wish  was  then  to  attack  New  York,  and  we  should  have 
carried  the  plan  into  execution  if  the  enemy  had  continued  to 
draft  troops  from  that  station  and  if  the  French  navy  could 
have  been  brought  to  our  assistance." 

What  really  did  deceive  Clinton  was  a  confidential  letter  cf 
Chastellux  to  De  la  Luzerne  at  Philadelphia  of  having  brought 
ROCHAMBEAU  to  accept  Washington's  plan  of  attack  on  New 
York;  that  the  siege  of  New  York  was  determined  upon;  that 
the  two  armies  were  really  on  the  way  to  begin  operations,  and 
orders  had  been  sent  to  Comte  de  Grasse  to  come  north  with 
his  fleet  and  force  his  way  into  the  entrance  to  New  York 
Harbor. 

On  the  23d  the  Count  and  chevalier  parted  with  the  com 
mander  in  chief  on  their  return  to  Newport.  The  chief 
spent  the  remainer  of  the  day  in  preparing  dispatches  to  the 
governors  of  the  four  New  England  States,  "calling  on  them 


Newport  to  York  town,  1781  385 

in  earnest  and  pointed  terms  to  complete  their  Continental  bat 
talions  for  the  campaign,  at  least,  if  it  could  not  be  done  for 
the  war  or  three  years,  to  hold  a  proportionate  body  of  militia 
ready  to  march  in  one  week  and  to  make  some  arrangements 
to  provision  and  transport  them. ' ' 

A   JUNCTION   ARRANGED 

On  the  same  day  he  informed  Count  de  la  Luzerne  of  the 
intended  march  of  the  French  army  toward  the  North  River 
and  of  the  destination  of  the  French  fleet  at  Newport,  ' '  if 
circumstances  will  admit  of  the  respective  movements. ' ' 

He  also  mentioned  ROCHAMBEAU  and  Chevalier  de  Chastel- 
lux  agreeing  with  him,  and  that  while  affairs  remained  as  they 
were  the  West  Indies  fleet  should  run  immediately  to  Sandy 
Hook,  and  there  be  joined  by  that  of  Count  de  Barras. 

NEW   YORK   STILL   THE   OBJECTIVE 

He  informed  him  ' '  our  object  is  New  York. ' '  The  difficulty 
and  expense  of  land  transportation  and  continual  waste  of  men  in 
every  attempt  to  reenforce  the  southern  States,  as  he  urged,  were 
almost  insuperable  objections  to  marching  another  detachment 
from  the  army  on  North  River.  It  was  not  for  him  to  know 
how  the  French  fleet  was  to  be  employed  in  the  West  Indies 
during  the  summer  nor  to  inquire  at  which  epoch  it  might  be 
expected  on  the  coast,  -but  intimated  that  its  aid  was  of  such 
essential  importance  in  any  offensive  operation  and  to  stop  the 
enemy  at  the  southward,  that  he  desired  to  be  excused  for 
endeavoring  to  secure  his  good  offices  in  facilitating  an  event 
upon  which  so  much  depended.  He  mentioned  as  a  stronger 
plea  the  concurrence  of  General  ROCHAMBEAU'S  opinion,  and  at 
his  "instance  principally  I  make  to  you  this  address," 
concluding — 

If  we  are  happy  enough  to  find  your  excellency  in  sentiment  with  us, 
it  will  be  in  your  power  to  inform  Count  de  Grasse  of  the  strength  and 
situation  of  the  enemy's  naval  and  land  force  in  this  country,  the  destina 
tion  of  the  French  squadron  under  Admiral  de  Barras,  and  the  intention 
of  the  allied  arms,  if  a  junction  can  be  formed. 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 25 


386  Newport  to  York  town,  1781 

On  the  following  morning  (24th)  starting  on  his  return,  the 
chief  dined  at  Farmington  and  lodged  at  Ljtchfield,  making  his 
headquarters  by  sunset  the  day  after. 

A    DISTURBING   PROPOSITION 

ROCHAMBEAU,  upon  arriving  at  his  headquarters  from  the 
conference,  was  astounded  to  learn  the  French  vessels  were  get 
ting  ready  for  sea,  proposing  to  sail  for  Boston  as  soon  as  his 
army  started  on  its  march  to  join  Washington. 

The  inconvenience  of  Boston  as  compared  with  Newport  from 
a  strategic  point  of  view,  considering  any  probable  military 
operations,  was  apparent. 

The  Count  at  once  proposed  a  council  of  war  of  naval  and 
military  superior  officers.  To  this  De  Barras  assented.  The 
question  before  the  council  was  the  safety  of  the  fleet  at  Rhode 
Island  after  the  departure  of  the  French  troops,  with  a  guard 
of  500  men,  under  De  Choisy,  and  a  body  of  1,000  American 
militia  to  occupy  the  forts  constructed  for  the  protection  of  the 
anchorage. 

The  council  must  have  been  somewhat  vigorous  from  what 
is  known  of  its  deliberations. 

M.  de  la  Villebrune  called  upon  ROCHAMBKAU  "to  state 
whether  or  not  he  thought  M.  de  Grasse  would  bring  his  fleet 
into  North  American  seas..  If  he  is  really  to  come,  would  it  be 
proper  to  stay  here,  so  as  to  be  prepared  to  act  in  conjunction 
with  him  as  expeditiously  as  possible;  but  in  the  contrary  case, 
are  we  not  acting  in  direct  opposition  to  our  instructions  from 
the  council  of  France,  and  by  so  doing  shall  we  not  be  obliged 
to  abide  by  any  fatal  consequence  which  may  arise,  however 
unlikely  this  may  be  ?  " 

The  tension  of  the  moment  was  relieved  by  De  Barras  him 
self,  who,  replying  for  the  Count,  said: 

No  one  is  more  interested  than  I  in  the  arrival  of  M.  de  Grasse.  He  was 
my  junior  in  the  service  and  has  lately  bee"n  raised  to  lieutenant-general. 
As  soon  as  I  am  apprised  of  his  arrival  I  shall  hasten  to  join  him  and  place 
myself  under  his  orders.  I  will  serve  through  this  campaign,  but  not  a 
second  one. 


Newport  to  York  town,  1781  387 

ROCHAMBEAU  refers  to  this  ' '  noble  and  generous  repartee ' ' 
as  carrying  the  question  "unanimously  in  the  affirmative." 

COMMUNICATING   WITH   DE    GRASSE 

This  decision  having  been  reached,  ROCHAMBEAU  indited  his 
dispatches  to  De  Grasse,  and  De  Barras  ordered  the  Concorde 
ready  for  sea. 

It  is  interesting  to  repeat  the  spirit  of  the  Count's  letter, 
showing  as  it  does  the  situation  of  affairs  when  the  Yorktown 
opportunity  presented  itself  to  the  notice  of  the  American 
chief. 

He  referred  to  the  distress  at  the  south,  and  especially  Vir 
ginia,  which  was  defended  against  Cornwallis's  formidable  force 
only  by  the  small  body  of  troops  under  'General  de  Lafayette, 
who  for  his  own  safety  would  be  obliged  to  depend  upon  able 
maneuvering.  He  also  included  the  articles  of  the  conference 
at  Wethersfield,  and  added,  in  the  way  of  comment,  his  own 
(De  Grasse' s)  ability  to  judge  of  the  practicability  of  an  attack 
on  New  York,  referring  to  D'Estaing's  experience,  under  whom 
De  Grasse  himself  had  served,  especially  the  difficulty  of  secur 
ing  pilots  even  with  liberal  offers  of  money. 

ROCHAMBEAU  URGES  AN  ATTACK  ON  CORNWALUS 

ROCHAMBEAU  suggested  as  his  own  opinion  the  favorable 
opening  for  an  expedition  against  Cornwallis  on  the  Chesa 
peake,  which  he  considered  more  practicable  and  less  expected 
by  the  enemy. 

He  urged  him  to  intercede  with  the  governor  of  Santo 
Domingo  for  the  use  of  M.  de  St.  Simon's  French  brigade 
and  a  loan  of  1,200,000  francs. 

He  further  entreated  him  to  send  the  Concorde  back  promptly 
with  his  reply,  so  that  he  might — 

take  the  earliest  opportunity  to  continue  our  march  with  that  of  Gen 
eral  Washington  so  as  to  proceed  by  land  as  expeditiously  as  possible  and 
join  him  at  any  stipulated  part  of  the  Chesapeake. 


388  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

Washington  approved  the  requisitions  on  Count  de  Grasse, 
and  could  not  urge  too  strongly  the  bringing  of  a  body  of  troops, 
as  it  was  doubtful  whether  his  own  could  be  collected  in  time. 

AFFAIRS   AT   NEWPORT 

In  acknowledging  the  result  of  the  second  council  of  war, 
received  from  Count  de  Barras,  in  favor  of  detention  of  the 
French  fleet  at  Rhode  Island,  the  general  in  chief  conceded  his 
respect  for  the  opinions  of  the  gentlemen  who  composed  the 
board,  which  left  in  his  mind  no  doubt  of  the  propriety  of  the 
measure. 

While  he  preferred  to  adhere  to  his  opinion  he  would  not  set 
up  his  judgment  against  gentlemen  of  experience  and  knowl 
edge  of  marine  affairs,  in  which  he  candidly  confessed  his  lack 
of  information.  If  they  thought  best  to  adhere  to  their  views, 
he  gave  them  letters  to  the  governments  of  Massachusetts  and 
Rhode  Island  to  call  out  500  militia.  He  wished,  however,  the 
march  of  the  troops  expedited  to  the  North  River.  The  strides 
the  enemy  were  making  in  the  south  rendered  it  necessary  to 
concentrate  at  New  York  in  order  to  relieve  that  section. 

In  Virginia  Cornwallis  had  assembled  8,000  men,  about  four 
times  the  strength  of  Lafayette,  who,  by  dexterous  handling  of 
his  men  and  the  junction  of  Wayne,  was  maintaining  a  bold 
front. 

As  soon  as  the  council  of  war  made  its  decision  to  leave  the 
French  squadron  at  Rhode  Island,  ROCHAMBEAU  prepared  to 
embark  his  army  for  Providence  to  await  a  reasonable  time  the 
arrival  of  the  Sagittaire  with  the  recruits. 

The  convoy,  fortunately  not  long  delayed,  came  in  ample 
time,  with  the  specie  and  draft  of  recruits. 

These  fresh  men  were  left  with  the  detachment  of  De  Choisy 
to  guard  the  ships. 

AI/)NE   IN   POWER   TO    COMMAND   THE    FRENCH 

In  the  midst  of  these  conflicting  plans  and  operations  Gov 
ernor  Jefferson,  for  the  people  of  Virginia,  appealed  to  Wash 
ington  to  take  command  of  the  army  in  that  State.  In  reply, 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  389 

admitting  that  his  inclinations  would  be  the  defense  of  the 
country  where  all  his  property  and  connections  were,  there 
were  powerful  objections  to  his  leaving  his  station,  one  of  them 
' '  that  no  other  person  has  power  to  command  the  French 
troops  now  about  to  form  a  junction  with  this  army." 

NEWS   FROM   THE   SOUTH 

On  June  3  Lafayette  reported  the  British  army  in  consider 
able  force  between  Richmond  and  Fredericksburg,  its  destina 
tion  uncertain,  but  at  liberty  to  move  anywhere,  owing  to 
superiority  of  numbers. 

TO   TAKE   THE    FIELD 

The  junction  of-  the  French  and  American  armies  on  the 
Hudson  having  been  determined,  General  Washington  requested 
the  calling  out  of  the  Rhode  Island  militia  to  combine  with  the 
French  detachment  as  a  guard  to  relieve  the  marching  forces 
for  the  protection  of  the  heavy  stores  and  baggage  and  of  the 
works  erected  for  the  security  of  the  harbor. 

General  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  at  once  began  the  final  prepara 
tions  antecedent  to  taking  the  field  with  his  troops. 

The  monthly  report  of  June  i  showed  his  total  effective 
strength  to  be:  Bourbonnais,  910;  Soissonnais,  985;  Saintonge, 
897;  Royal  Deux-Ponts,  926;  artillery,  408;  miners,  23;  laborers 
26;  Lauzun,  581;  total,  4,756,  as  follows:  Captains,  command, 
51;  second  captains,  45;  lieutenants,  108;  under  lieutenants, 
85;  cadets,  gentlemen,  13;  lower  officers,  344;  corporals,  fraters, 
fusiliers,  and  drummers,  4,412;  total,  4,756. 

FRENCH    AUXILIARY    ARMY 

The  organization  of  the  French  auxiliary  army  for  opera 
tions,  which  included  the  march  from  Newport,  R.  I.,  to  the 
junction  with  the  American  forces  under  Washington  at  Dobbs 
Ferry  on  the  Hudson,  River  was  as  follows: 

Lieutenant-general  commanding. — Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU. 
Intendant.—T)e  Tarle. 


3QO  Newport  to  York  town,  1781 

Major-generals.— Karon  de  Viomenil,  Chevalier  de  Chastellux,  Comte  de 
Viomenil,  De  Choisy. 

Army  staff. — De  Seville,  quartermaster-general. 

Adjutant  quartermasters. — Vicomte  de  Rochambeau,  Collot,  De  Beville. 

Aids  to  the  major-generals  of  infantry. — De  Menonville,  De  Tarle, 
Dubouchet. 

Engineers.  — Desandrouins. 

Colonel  and  commandant — De  Querenel,  lieutenant-colonel;  De  Palys 
major;  De  Doyre,  captain;  Crubliez  d'Opterre,  captain;  De  Gazarac,  cap 
tain;  Baron  de  Turpin,  captain;  De  Plancher,  captain. 

Artillery. — D'Aboville,  colonel,  commandant;  De  Lazier,  wagon  master; 
Mauduit,  adjutant. 

Administration. — Blanchard,  commissary-general;  De  Corny,  commis 
sary  of  war;  De  Villemanzy,  commissary  of  war;  Gau,  commissary  of  war 
and  artillery. 

Second  army  staff. — Mullin,  captain  of  guards. 

Provost.—  De  Ronchamp. 

Aids-de-camp  to  Rochambeau. — Comte  de  Fersen,  Marquis  de  Damas, 
Chevalier  de  Lameth,  Dumas,  De  Lauberdiere,  Baron  de  Closen. 

Aids-de-camp  to  Baron  de  Viomenil. — M.  d'  Angely,  Le  Chevalier  de 
Viomenil,  De  Chabannes,  Brintaneau,  Vicomte  Armand,  De  Sauge,  Brison. 

Aids-de-camp  to  Chevalier  de  Chastellux. — De  Lintz  (Lintch),  De  Mon 
tesquieu. 

Aids-de-camp  to  Comte  de  Viomenil. — D'Olonne,  sr.;  D'Olonne,  jr.; 
Stack. 

Aid-de-camp  to  De  Choisy. — Saumann. 

Aid-de-camp  to  M.  de  Beville. — De  Beville. 

Paymaster. — De  Baulny,  paymaster  of  the  army. 

Supplies. — Danre,  superintendent;  Morion,  cashier;  Bourguin  (Bourg- 
neuf),  director;  Duval,  inspector. 

Hospitals. — De  Mars,  superintendent;  De  Coste,  physician  in  chief; 
Robillard  (Robillaid)  surgeon  in  chief;  Abbe"  de  Gleson  (Glemon),  chap 
lain. 

Butcher's  meat. — Buret  de  Blegier  (Durelde  Begier),  superintendent. 

Forage. — Louis,  superintendent. 

^Clothing. — Martin,  storekeeper. 

REGIMENTS 

Bourbonnais. — Marquis  de  Laval,  colonel;  Vicomte  de  Rochambeau, 
second  colonel;  De  Broselles,  lieutenant-colonel;  De  Gambs,  major. 

Royal  Deux-Ponts.* — Comte  de  Deux-Ponts,  colonel;  Comte  Guillaume 
de  Deux-Ponts,  second  colonel;  Baron  d'Ezbeck,  lieutenant-colonel;  Des- 
prez,  major. 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  391 

Soissonnais. — Marquis  de  St.  Maime,  colonel;  Vicotnte  de  Noailles,  sec 
ond  colonel;  D'Anselme,  lieutenant-colonel;  D'Espeyron,  major. 

Saintonge, — Marquis  de  Custine,  colonel;  Comte  de  Charlus,  second 
colonel;  De  la  Vatelle,  lieutenant-colonel;  De  Fleury,  major. 

Corps  of  Royal  Artillery  (second  battalion  regiment  Auxonne}. — De  la 
Tour,  lieutenant-colonel;  De  Buzelet,  brigadier  in  chief. 

Sappers  and  miners. — De  Chazelles,  brigadier  in  chief. 

Workmen. — De  la  Chaise,  second  captain. 

Lauzun  legion. — Due  de  Lauzun,  colonel  (proprietor);  Gugean,  lieu 
tenant-colonel;  De  Scheldon,  major. 

FAREWELL   TO   NEWPORT 

The  French  auxiliary  army  received  its  marching  orders  from 
ROCHAMBEAU  on  June  9.  The  next  day  the  regiments  Bour- 
bonnais  and  Deux-Ponts,  forming  the  first  division  under  Baron 
de  Viomenil,  moved  out  of  its  works,  the  second  division,  the 
regiments  Soissonnais  and  Saintonge,  marching  a  few  hours 
later.  The  detachments  of  artillery  moved  with  these  com 
mands.  Quartermaster-General  de  Beville  and  Commissary- 
General  M.  Claude  Blanchard  had  their  respective  departments 
thoroughly  prepared  for  equipping  and  victualing. 

ROCHAMBEAU   LEADS 

On  June  10  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  with  his  staff  left  New 
port,  reaching  Providence  the  next  day.  Here  the  march  for 
the  Hudson  was  to -begin.  He  established  his  camp  on  the 
heights  overlooking  the  city.  The  next  eight  days  were  occu 
pied  in  securing  horses  for  the  artillery,  wagons  for  the  train, 
and  oxen  to  draw  them.  The  hospital  and  ambulance  corps 
were  put  in  field  order. 

A  siege  battery  of  eight  guns,  at  the  request  of  Washington, 
was  forwarded  to  Hartford  to  join  the  main  column  en  route. 

After  eleven  months  of  inactivity  the  French  troops  were 
now  in  motion.  A  force  of  600  French  grenadiers  and  1,000 
militia,  previously  agreed  upon,  under  Brigadier  de  Choisy, 
remained  as  a  garrison  for  the  defenses  and  guard  of  the  squad 
ron  of  eight  vessels  at  Newport  and  to  cover  the  French  stores 
left  at  Providence. 


392  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

The  entire  French  army  was  transferred  in  two  detachments 
to  Providence,  30  miles  distant,  both  sailing  on  June  10.  They 
made  their  first  camp  the  same  day  just  outside  of  the  town 
and  remained -until  the  2oth,  during  which  time  ROCHAMBKAU 
made  the  necessary  dispositions  and  field  orders  of  his  troops 
about  to  enter  upon  a  campaign  concerning  which  nothing 
could  be  foretold  and  out  of  which  sprang  the  greatest  events 
of  all  time. 

While  the  French  army  was  in  camp  at  Providence,  Wash 
ington  expressed  his  anxiety  to  ROCHAMBEAU  concerning  the 
convoy  of  15  French  vessels  with  690  recruits  and  cash  sent  by 
Count  de  Grasse,  under  escort  of  the  Sagittaire,  a  5Q-gun  ship. 
Part  of  the  convoy  and  the  gun  ship,  however,  fortunately 
arrived  the  same  time  (June  n)  at  Boston,  the  rest  having 
been  dispersed  in  a  gale.  These  subsequently  made  port,  mak 
ing  matters  easy  for  ROCHAMBKAU  and  decidedly  comforting 
for  Washington. 

Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  reported  from  Providence  the  land 
ing  of  these  recruits — 400  in  condition  for  duty,  260  down  with 
scurvy,  and  30  not  accounted  for  according  to  first  figures. 

Although  about  to  march  with  that  object  in  view,  ROCHAM 
BEAU  still  did  not  approve  of  the  attack  on  New  York,  but 
yielded  to  the  wishes  of  Washington.  In  his  letters  from 
New  Windsor,  received  by  ROCHAMBEAU  before  leaving  his 
Providence  camp,  Washington  still  looked  upon  New  York  as 
the  only  practicable  objective  at  present,  but  conceded  with 
naval  superiority  others  might  be,  and  urged  him  to  explain 
this  to  Count  de  Grasse,  if  the  frigate  had  not  yet  sailed. 

AS  TO   DE    GRASSE 

On  the  same  day  (June  13)  Washington,  writing  to  Luzerne 
concerning  the  ROCHAMBEAU  letter  to  De  Grasse,  urged  a  land 
force  with  the  naval  army,  as  he  fearedas  before  stated  he  would 
not  be  able  to  get  the  men  together  in  time  to  insure  success 
against  the  enemy's  most  important  post.  As  De  Grasse' s  stay 
would  be  limited,  the  addition  of  a  corps  from  the  West  Indies 
would  terminate  the  matter  favorably  very  soon. 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  ij8i  393 

If  these  views  agreed  with  his  own,  Washington  urged  the 
presentation  of  the  subject  to  the  French  commanders  in  the 
West  Indies,  setting  forth,  "  by  one  great  and  decisive  stroke 
the  enemy  may  be  expelled  from  the  continent  and  the  inde 
pendence  of  America  established. ' ' 

MARCHING  ORDERS  OF  THE  FRENCH 

On  June  16  the  entire  French  corps  was  under  orders  of 
Baron  Viomenil  for  a  grand  review,  which  took  place  the  same 
day  in  the  presence  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  the  American  general 
officer  in  command  of  the  guard  in  reserve  under  De  Choisy. 

The  order  of  march  put  the  column  in  motion  as  follows: 

June  1 8,  advance,  Regiment  Bourbonnais,  under  ROCHAMBEAU  and  De 
Chastellux. 

June  19,  Regiment  Royal-Deux-Ponts,  under  Baron  de  Viomenil. 
June  20,  Regiment  Soissonnais,  under  Comte  de  Viomenil. 
June  21,  Regiment  Saintonge,  under  Comte  de  Custine. 

The  regiments  under  orders  were  to  preserve  a  distance  of 
about  one  day  and  move  at  the  same  average  stage  as  to  miles. 

Comte  de  Dumas,  under  directions  of  M.  de  Beville,  pre 
ceded  the  advance,  in  order  to  designate  the  sites  for  the 
camps,  from  day  to  day,  as  the  commands  moved  up. 

Among  the  officers  who  then  marched  to  victory  over  the 
arms  of  England  in  America  were  many  distinguished  in  the 
late  wars  of  France  on  the  Continent,  and  not  a  few  who  took 
their  first  lessons  in  campaign  and  battle  in  the  New  World  to 
become  famous  in  the  great  struggles  of  the  Old.  Of  these 
may  be  mentioned  ROCHAMBEAU  in  both,  his  son  among  the 
aids;  Fersen,  the  gallant  Swede,  distinguished  as  the  stanch 
friend  of  Marie  Antoinette,  the  queen,  in  her  captivity;  Dumas, 
general  of  division  in  the  armies  of  the  French  Republic  and 
author  of  valuable  memoirs;  Berthier,  the  great  Napoleon's 
favorite  chief  of  staff;  Vicomte  de  Noailles,  brother-in-law  of 
Lafayette  and  his  friend  and  would-be  companion  in  his  flight 
from  France  to  serve  the  States;  De  Montesquieu,  son  of  the 
author  of  L,'  Esprit  des  L,ois. 


394  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

The  next  day  (June  17)  Washington  suggested  to  ROCHAM- 
BEAU  an  expedition  to  the  Chesapeake  by  M.  de  Barras  with 
his  fleet  not  needed  at  Newport,  as  he  might  prevent  a  reunion 
of  the  enemy's  forces.  Count  de  Barras  was  favorably  inclined 
to  the  suggestion,  but  could  not  sail  under  twenty  days. 

ROCHAMBEAU    AND    BOURBONNAIS    IN    THE    VAN 

On  June  18  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  with  his  French  corps, 
in  conformity  with  his  marching  orders,  set  out  with  Regiment 
Bourbonnais  as  the  advance  and  vanguard  and  his  bodyguard. 
The  movement  of  the  remaining  regiments  was  to  begin  regu 
larly  within  the  three  days  following.  Two  companies  (De 
Choisy's  detachment),  with  siege  artillery  ready  to  be  embarked 
to  go  by  sea  when  wanted,  were  conveyed  from  Newport  to 
Providence  for  greater  security.  During  these  movements  the 
pleasing  intelligence  reached  French  headquarters  of  General 
Greene  having  forced  lyord  Rawdon  back  to  Charleston,  S.  C. 

On  June  21  the  last  of  the  French  regiments  broke  camp, 
moving  out  on  the  main  road,  passing  through  Wollaston,  mak 
ing  camp  No.  2  at  Waterman,  15  miles  west  of  Providence. 

FRENCH    ARMY    IN    MOTION 

From  New  Windsor,  June  24,  Washington  writing  to  RO 
CHAMBEAU,  in  referring  to  the  Count's  letter  of  the  2oth  on 
the  progress  made  in  the  march  of  his  troops  and  intentions  to 
come  to  his  camp  in  person  from  Hartford,  expressed  himself 
happy  at  the  prospect  of  seeing  him,  informing  him  his  camp 
was  at  Peekskill. 

After  a  march  of  16  miles  the  next  da)7,  passing  through 
Canterbury,  the  column  halted  at  camp  No.  3,  Plainfield,  in 
the  southeast  corner  of  Windham  County,  Conn. 

The  French  officers  complained  of  the  tardy  movements  of 
the  ox  teams — which  were  not  up  with  the  tents  until  late  after 
the  end  of  the  day's  march — but  the  French  soldiers  bore  all 
with  good  humor.  .To  encourage  them  many  of  the  officers 
marched  with  their  companies  and  submitted  to  their  hardships 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  ij8i  395 

and  privations.  The  Viscount  de  Noailles  (a  kinsman  of  Lafay 
ette)  performed  the  whole  march  from  Providence  to  the  North 
River  on  foot. 

The  afternoon  of  June  22  brought  the  column  to  camp  No.  4, 
Windham,  16  miles  from  the  last  halt. 

The  main  column  the  next  day,  after  a  march  of  16  miles, 
pitched  its  tents  at  camp  No.  5,  just  outside  of  Bolton,  in  Tol- 
land  County. 

On  the  same  day  (June  23)  ROCHAMBEAU,  from  Hartford, 
reported  his  arrival  the  day  before  with  the  advance  of  one 
regiment,  followed  by  the  second  the  same  day,  the  third  and 
fourth  to  come  up  the  day  after.  He  proposed  to  remain  two 
days  for  repairs  of  vehicles  and  to  rest  the  j^oung  artillery 
horses  and  oxen. 

The  day  after  he  would  be  off  for  Newtown,  the  army  to 
march  in  four  divisions,  as  before,  arriving  at  Newtown  on  the 
28th,  remaining  there  29th  and  3oth  to  assemble  the  brigades, 
and  would  then  march  in  two  divisions  to  the  North  River. 

In  a  dispatch  of  June  27  to  the  Count,  Washington  expressed 
the  pleasure  it  would  give  could  he  make  it  convenient  to  meet 
him  at  Newtown,  but  he  was  detained  in  hourly  expectation  of 
the  arrival  of  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne.  He  was  pleased  that 
his  idea  of  position  coincided  with  his  own  and  would  give  his 
quartermaster  every  aid  in  reconnoitering  and  marking  out  his 
camp. 

The  commander  in  chief  sent  his  letter  by  Col.  David  Cobb, 
one  of  his  aids,  with  instructions  to  bring  back  anything  the 
Count  should  have  to  communicate.  Should  the  Count  him 
self  be  inclined  to  come  forward  from  Newtown  Colonel  Cobb 
would  be  proud  to  attend  him. 

The  general  in  chief  also  wished  him  to  thank  Count  de  Bar- 
ras  for  his  ready  acceptance  of  the  proposition  he  made  to  him. 

AT    HARTFORD 

During  these  interchanges  of  courtesies  of  correspondence, 
about  sundown  of  the  24th,  after  a  day's  march  of  12^  miles, 
the  main  column  made  East  Hartford  (camp  No.  6). 


396  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

The  next  two  days  (25th  and  26th)  were  spent  in  getting 
the  troops,  guns,  animals,  equipment,  and  baggage  across  the 
Connecticut  River. 

As  the  French  corps  was  now  approaching  the  scene  of 
active  hostilities,  its  commanding  general  gave  the  men  and 
equipment  thorough  inspection  and  issued  special  field  orders 
to  insure  the  extra  precautions  prudent  in  march  formation 
and  vigilance  in  picket  and  patrol  duty  in  camp. 

On  the  26th  ROCHAMBKAU,  with  the  Bourbonnais  as  a 
guard,  pushed  ahead  to  Newtown. 

The  main  column  on  the  next  day  made  its  seventh  camp  at 
Farmington,  12^  miles  from  Hartford. 

It  started  out  the  next  day  on  a  1 3 -mile  march  to  Bacon's 
Tavern  (No.  8);  the  day  following,  13  miles  to  Breakneck,  a 
Connecticut  village,  and  the  next  day  reached  Newtown,  15 
miles  (camp  No.  10),  it  being  the  last  day  of  June. 

ON    GUARD   AGAINST   TORIES 

The  French  general  was  put  on  his  guard  by  special  injunction 
of  Washington,  as  he  was  in  a  badly  disaffected  region,  where 
Tories  were  numerous  and  would  report  his  movements  and  any 
other  information. 

At  this  camp  (Newtown)  ROCHAMBKAU  made  a  rendezvous  of 
his  entire  foot  force,  assembling  his  brigades  and  organizing 
them  into  two  divisions  in  order  to  be  in  fighting  trim  on  short 
notice. 

LAUZUN'S  HUSSARS 

When  the  main  French  army  left  camp  at  Windham,  Duke 
de  lyauzun,  who  was  still  at  the  quarters  in  which  he  had 
wintered  at  Lebanon,  Conn.,  received  orders  from  his  general 
to  move  out  with  his  hussars  and  dragoons  as  a  cover  on  the 
left  flank  at  a  distance  of  9  or  10  miles.  His  line  of  march 
accordingly  lay  through  or  near  Middletown,  Wallingford, 
North  Haven,  North  Stratford,  and  Oxford. 

The  main  column,  from  its  last  halt  after  a  march  of  15  miles 
on  the  evening  of  July  2,  went  into  camp  at  Ridgeway.  The 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  397 

same  day  the  corps  of  De  Lauzun  made  a  junction  at  this  point, 
and  thereafter  moved  with  the  column,  performing  flanking  and 
scouting  duty. 

On  the  next  day  the  French  changed  their  position,  but  again 
went  into  camp  No.  n  in  the  same  vicinity  (Newtown).  They 
were  now  42  miles  from  Peekskill. 

Washington,  learning  that  the  enemy  had  not  only  divided 
his  forces  but  had  sent  a  strong  body  into  New  Jersey,  planned 
an  attack  on  the  British  forts  at  the  head  of  New  York  Island. 

ARRANGING   A   SURPRISE 

On  June  30  he  sent  forward  secret  information  to  Count 
ROCHAMBKAU  of  the  contemplated  surprise.  As  this  would 
require  the  assistance  of  the  French  he  urged  him  to  bring 
his  troops  forward  with  greater  haste  and  by  different  routes 
then  in  view.  The  Duke  de  Lauzun  was  to  arrive  in  advance. 

On  July  i,  from  his  headquarters  near  Peekskill,  Washing 
ton  issued  his  instructions  to  Major- General  Lincoln,  who  was 
to,  command  the  enterprise.  His  force  was  to  consist  of  two 
regiments  formed  in  four  battalions,  a  detachment  of  artillery, 
and  a  corps  of  watermen.  His  primary  object  was  Fort  George, 
on  Laurel  Hill,  north  end  of  York  Island,  as  success  there 
would  afford  a  cover  for  the  troops  should  they  be  disappointed 
in  other  attacks,  and  in  case  of  necessity  open  a  secure  retreat  to 
the  main  body  of  the  army.  In  event  of  carrying  Forts  Knyp- 
hausen  and  Try  on  only,  they  were  not  to  be  held,  as  no  support 
could  be  given  from  without.  The  artillerymen  were  divided 
for  the  three  attacks,  each  party  to  be  supplied  with  two  lanterns 
and  rockets,  one  to  be  fired  in  each  fort  as  soon  as  carried. 

If  successful,  the  boats  were  to  be  drawn  across  the  island 
from  North  River  into  the  Harlem  and  secured  under  the  guns 
of  Fort  George  if  circumstances  admitted. 

In  case  of  too  much  opposition  and  being  obliged  to  retreat 
by  water  and  unable  to  pass  the  enemy's  ships  and  boats,  the 
attacking  party  was  to  push  over  to  the  Jersey  shore.  If,  after 
a  reconnoissance  during  the  day  the  strength  of  the  enemy  for 
bade,  or  discovery  was  made  by  the  enemy's  boats,  attention  was 


398  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

ordered  to  the  support  of  an  attempt  on  the  morning  of  July  3, 
by  Duke  de  Lauzun,  on  Delancey  corps  of  refugees  to  the 
British  army  at  Morrisania.  To  do  this  Lincoln  was  to  land 
above  the  mouth  of  Spuyten  Duyvil  Creek  and  march  to  the  high 
grounds  in  front  of  Kings  Bridge  and  lie  concealed  until  the 
duke's  attack  was  announced  by  firing  or  other  means.  The 
Americans  were  then  to  take  position  to  prevent  a  movement  of 
the  enemy  over  the  bridge  to  turn  the  duke's  right  and  also  to 
prevent  Delancey  passing  that  way.  Washington  proposed  to 
be  in  the  neighborhood  of  Kings  Bridge  early  on  the  morning 
of  the  3d  with  the  remainder  of  the  army,  where  he  would  open 
communication  and  give  orders  as  required  by  the  general  state 
of  affairs. 

If  a  landing  should  be  effected  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  the 
boats  were  to  be  sent  up  along  the  east  shore.  If  no  particular 
directions  were  given  they  were  to  continue  to  Kings  Ferry. 

To  Brigadier  Waterbury,  commanding  the  Connecticut  State 
troops  at  Horseneck,  July  i ,  Washington  gave  orders  to  march 
with  all  his  troops  to  form  a  junction  with  Colonel  Sheldon  com 
manding  the  ''Dapple  Grey"  Continental  Dragoons,  on  the  2d 
at  Clapp's,  where  he  would  be  joined  by  the  French  Legion  under 
Due  de  Lauzun. 

This  officer,  a  brigadier  in  the  service  of  His  Most  Christian 
Majesty  and  an  officer  of  long  service  and  merit,  was  to  com 
mand  all  the  troops  assembled.  Therefore,  General  Waterbury 
was  directed  to  place  himself  under  his  orders  and  commands, 
the  Duke  having  specific  orders  for  what  was  to  follow. 

FORCED   MARCHES 

To  ROCHAMBEAU,  July  2,  from  Peekskill,  Washington  sent 
word: 

I  think  it  will  be  very  well  for  your  excellency  to  proceed  to-morrow  to 
North  Castle  where  you  will  continue  until  you  assemble  your  whole  force. 
Being  at  North  Castle  will  put  you  in  a  direct  route  to  receive  your  pro 
visions  from  Crompond  and  it  will  be  in  a  direct  way  for  your  troops  to 
advance  to  White  Plains  or  any  other  point  below,  as  circumstances  appear 
to  demand. 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  399 

In  compliance  with  these  directions,  on  July  3  ROCHAMBKAU 
moved  the  position  of  his  army  to  North  Castle  (camp  No.  13), 
where  he  remained  July  4  and  5,  awaiting  orders. 

To  General  Knox  at  New  Windsor,  Washington  (July  2), 
.spoke  of  this  enterprise  as  one  he  had  long  contemplated  and 
would  be  executed  in  the  course  of  that  night,  if  General  Lin 
coln  after  reconnoitering  found  it  advisable. 

A   RECONNOISSANCE    IN    FORCE 

In  execution  of  the  movement  toward  King's  Bridge  the 
American  army  marched  out  of  their  camp  near  Peekskill  at  3 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  July  2,  leaving  their  tents  and  bag 
gage  standing,  in  order  to  cover  the  detached  troops  and  im 
prove  any  advantages  gained  by  them,  reaching  Valentines  Hill, 
4  miles  from  Kings  Bridge,  soon  after  daylight.  General  Lin 
coln,  after  dark  on  July  i ,  with  800  men,  dropped  down  the 
North  River  from  Tellers  Point  in  boats,  landing  near  Philipps's 
House  before  daylight  of  July  3  and  occupied  a  position  on 
Harlem  River,  formerly  Fort  Independence.  This  movement 
was  to  support  the  attack  by  Duke  de  Lauzun  with  his  French 
legion,  Colonel  Sheldon's  Continental  regiment  of  dragoons,  and 
the  Connecticut  State  troops  under  Brigadier-General  Water- 
bury,  on  Colonel  Delancey's  corps  of  refugees  and  other  light 
troops  in  the  vicinity  of  the  bridge. 

I^AUZUN   IN   SUPPORT 

The  Duke  de  Lauzun  on  July  2,  despite  the  intense  heat, 
moved  from  his  camp  at  Ridgebury  (Ridgeway),  reaching  East 
Chester  early  on  the  morning  of  the  3d.  Upon  his  arrival, 
finding  General  Lincoln  being  attacked  and  the  alarm  given,  he 
abandoned  his  own  plan  and  hastened  to  the  support  of  the  gen 
eral,  who  kept  up  skirmishing  with  a  body  of  Jagers,  German 
mercenaries,  in  an  attempt  to  draw  them  sufficiently  into  the 
country  to  enable  the  French  legion  to  cut  them  off  from  their 
post  on  the  east  side  of  the  Harlem  River.  General  Parsons, 
who  held  the  heights  commanding  Kings  Bridge,  was  in  posi 
tion  to  head  the  enemy  off  by  that  retreat.  The  movement, 


400  Newport  to  York  town,  1781 

however,  did  not  succeed.  Washington,  accompanied  by  Gen 
eral  Duportail,  while  his  troops  lay  on  their  arms,  spent  the  rest 
of  the  day  in  a  personal  survey  of  the  enemy's  works.  Find 
ing  the  British  main  force  retired  to  York  Island,  in  the  after 
noon  he  withdrew  all  his  forces  to  Valentines  Hill. 

The  Duke  de  Lauzun  and  General  Waterbury  took  post  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Bronx  River,  on  the  East  Chester  road. 

THK    FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY   OF   THK    DECLARATION 

On  July  4  General  Washington  went  into  camp  a  little  to 
the  left  of  Dobbs  Ferry,  where  he  marked  the  site  for  the  French 
army  on  his  left,  and  the  Due  de  Lauzun  then  advanced  to  White 
Plains  and  Waterbury  back  to  Horseneck. 

In  an  express,  Washington  sent  word  he  would  receive  Count 
DE  ROCHAMBEAU  with  his  troops  at  that  place  on  July  6,  as  the 
point  for  beginning  the  concerted  operations  of  the  campaign. 

On  July  4,  at  9  a.  m.,  the  Count  arrived  at  North  Castle  with 
the  first  brigade,  the  second  brigade  by  a  forced  march  bring 
ing  up  the  same  afternoon.  He  promptly  reported  to  Wash 
ington  ' '  We  are  now  all  together,  ready  to  execute  your  orders. ' ' 
On  the  5th  Washington  paid  a  visit  to  ROCHAMBEAU  at  his 
camp  at  North  Castle. 

On  the  6th  the  French  army,  after  a  march  of  22  miles,  formed 
a  junction  with  the  American  army  on  the  site  indicated  on  the 
American  left  (camp  No. '14).  L,auzun's  French  legion  occu 
pied  a  position  in  advance  on  the  plains  near  Chatterton's  Hill 
west  of  the  Bronx  River. 

On  the  same  day  that  the  allied  armies  came  together  for  the 
first  time  under  the  immediate  command  of  their  American  chief, 
Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne,  the  French  minister,  arrived  from 
Philadelphia. 

THANKS   TO    ROCHAMBEAU 

On  that  day  Washington  took  occasion  to  publish  in  general 
orders  his  thanks  to  the  French  general  and  troops  in  the  fol 
lowing  applauding  terms: 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  401 

The  commander  in  chief  with  pleasure  embraces  the  earliest  public 
opportunity  of  expressing  his  thanks  to  his  excellency  the  Count  DE  Ro- 
CHAMBEAU,  for  the  unremitting  zeal  with  which  he  has  prosecuted  his 
march,  in  order  to  form  the  long  wished  for  junction  between  the  French 
and  American  forces,  an  event  which  must  afford  the  highest  degree  of 
pleasure  to  every  friend  of  his  country,  and  from  which  the  happiest  con 
sequences  are  to  be  expected.  The  general  entreats  his  excellency,  the 
Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  to  convey  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  under  his 
immediate  command  the  gratef ul^sense  he  entertains  of  the  cheerfulness 
with  which  they  have  performed  so  long  and  laborious  a  march  at  this  hot 
season.  The  Regiment  Saintonge  is  entitled  to  particular  acknowledg 
ments  for  the  spirit  with  which  they  continued  their  march  without  one 
day's  respite. 

NEAR   THE   ENEMY 

The  position  of  the  allied  armies  was  about  12  miles  from 
Kings  Bridge.  It  was  encamped  in  two  lines  with  the  right 
resting  on  the  Hudson  River  near  Dobbs  Ferry.  The  French 
troops  occupied  the  hills  on  the  left  in  a  single  line  extending 
to  the  Bronx  River.  The  two  armies,  although  in  sight  of  each 
other,  were  separated  by  a  valley  of  some  extent. 

SITUATION    IN    VIRGINIA 

On  this  same  eventful  day  (July  6),  the  day  of  momentous 
happenings,  Lafayette  was  pushing  his  work  to  conclusion  in 
far  away  Virginia.  This  is  his  story  of  the  situation: 

The  enemy  have  been  so  kind  as  to  retire  before  us.  Twice  I  gave  them 
a  chance  of  fighting  (taking  care  not  to  engage  further  than  I  pleased), 
but  they  continued  their  retrograde  movement.  Our  number  is,  I  think, 
exaggerated  to  them,  and  our  seeming  boldness  confirms  the  opinion.  I 
thought  at  first  that  Lord  Cernwallis  wanted  to  get  me  down  as  low  as 
possible,  and  use  the  cavalry  to  advantage.  But  it  appears  he  does  not  as 
yet  come  out,  and  our  position  will  admit  of  partial  affairs.  His  lordship 
had  (exclusive  of  the  riflemen  from  Portsmouth,  said  to  be  600)  4,000 
men,  800  of  whom  were  dragoons  or  mounted  infantry.  Our  force  is 
about  equal  to  his,  but  only  1,500  are  regulars  and  50  dragoons.  Our  little 
action  marks  the  retreat  of  the  enemy.  From  the  place  at  which  they 
first  began  to  retreat  to  Williamsburg  is  upward  of  100  miles.  His  lord 
ship  has  done  us  no  harm  of  any  consequence.  He  has  lost  a  very  large 
part  of  his  former  conquests,  and  has  not  made  any  in  this  State.  General 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 26 


402  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

Greene  demanded  of  me  only  to  hold  my  ground  in  Virginia,  but  the 
movements  of  Lord  Cornwallis  may  answer  better  purposes  than  that  in 
the  military  line. 

Washington,  in  return,  promptly  wrote  to  Lafayette  (July  13) 
from  Dobbs  Ferry: 

I  sincerely  congratulate  you  on  the  favorable  turn  of  affairs  announced 
in  your  last,  and  I  hope  you  will  be  able  to  maintain  that  superiority 
which  you  seem  to  be  gaining  over  Lord  Cornwallis.  *  *  *  Comte 
DE  ROCHAMBEAU  formed  a  junction  with  me  at  the  camp  about  12  miles 
from  Kings  Bridge  a  few  days  ago. 

I  shall  shortly  have  occasion  to  communicate  matters  of  very  great 
importance  to  you,  so  much  so  that  I  shall  send  a  confidential  officer  for  the 
purpose.  You  will  in  the  meantime  endeavor  to  draw  together  as  respect 
able  a  body  of  Continential  troops  as  you  possibly  can,  and  take  every 
measure  to  augment  your  cavalry.  Should  the  enemy  confine  themselves 
to  the  lower  country,  you  will  no  doubt  pay  attention  to  the  formation  of 
magazines  above.  These  will  be  in  every  case  essential,  wrhether  the  war 
continues  in  Virginia,  or  whether  it  shall  still  be  carried  on  in  South  Caro 
lina.  Should  General  Greene  come  into  Virginia  in  person  you  will  be 
good  enough  to  communicate  the  foregoing  to  him. 

In  the  present  situation  of  affairs  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  a 
communication  by  a  chain  of  expresses  should  be  opened  between  this 
army  and  that  in  Virginia.  They  are  already  established  from  here  to 
Philadelphia,  and  if  there  is  none  from  you  to  Philadelphia,  you  will  be 
pleased  to  take  measures  for  having  it  formed.  You  will  also  endeavor  to 
establish  such  a  communication  with  the  coast  as  to  be  able  to  know 
whether  any  troops  are  detached  by  sea  from  Lord  Cornwallis's  army;  for 
it  is  more  than  probable,  that,  if  he  finds  himself  baffled  in  attempting  to 
overrun  Virginia,  he  will  take  a  strong  post  at  Portsmouth  or  Williams- 
burg,  and  reenforce  New  York  or  South  Carolina.  Should  any  detachment 
be  made  you  will  transmit  to  me  the  earliest  intelligence.  *  *  * 

You  have  the  compliments  and  good  wishes  of  all  your  friends  in  the 
French  army,  while  those  of  the  American  army  are  not  behindhand  with 
them.  With  the  warmest  affection  and  esteem,  I  am,  etc. 

Recent  movements  evidently  disposed  of  any  further  reliance 
on  New  York  as  affording  the  much  desired  climax  to  military 
operations. 

In  less  than  a  fortnight,  so  sudden  had  become  the  transitions 
of  military  situations,  Washington  with  all  the  American  force 
he  could  spare  from  the  Hudson  River  and  all  our  French 
friends  were  marching  across  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Dela- 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  403 

ware,  Maryland,  and  Virginia,  to  the  regions  of  ancient  York, 
Williamsburg,  and  Jamestown,  to  give  the  final  blow  in  the 
struggle  Lafayette  was  engaged  in  with  the  British. 

COURTESIES   TO   OUR    AUJES 

Washington  was  scrupulously  attentive  to  the  proper  cour 
tesies  to  our  allies.  An  instance  of  this  may  be  cited  from 
a  letter  (July  14)  from  the  chief  to  Lord  Stirling,  a  noble  gen 
tleman  in  the  American  service.  This  is  what  he  says: 

The  greatest  harmony  having  hitherto  subsisted  between  the  French  and 
American  soldiers,  your  lordship  will  be  particularly  careful  to  see  that  it 
is  not  interrupted  by  any  act  of  imprudence  on  our  part;  and,  as  Baron 
Viomenil,  who  will  command  the  French  line,  is  older  in  commission  than 
your  lordship,  you  will  take  the  parole  and  countersign  from  him  daily. 
It  is  scarcely  probable  that  the  enemy  will  make  any  attempt  upon  the 
camp,  while  so  respectable  a  force  is  near  their  own  lines.  Should  they 
do  so,  it  must  be  by  water.  The  officer  commanding  the  water  guard  will 
communicate  any  movement  *  at  Dobbs  Ferry,  *  *  *  which 

you  will  of  course  transmit  to  Baron  Viomenil. 

DE  GRASSE.  TO   SAIL    FOR    THE    CHESAPEAKE 

Upon  his  return  to  Santo  Domingo  from  a  cruising  expedi 
tion  off  the  Antilles,  Comte  de  Grasse  found  De  Barras's  frig 
ate  with  ROCHAMBEAU'S  dispatches  awaiting  him.  He  at  once 
conferred  with  M.  de  Ljllancourt,  commandant  of  that  island, 
and  the  Spanish  admiral,  Senor  Solano.  In  them  he  found 
ready  concurrence  in  his  plan  of  an  expedition  to  the  mainland. 

The  particulars  of  what  transpired  are  fully  presented  in  his 
letter  to  ROCHAMBEAU  (at  the  cape,  Santo  Domingo,  July  8, 
1781).  He  wrote  in  an  open,  manly  tone  of  "seeing  with 
regret  the  distress  which  prevails  on  the  continent  and  the  ne 
cessity  of  the  prompt  succor  you  solicit . ' '  He  mentioned  his  con 
ference  with  M.  de  Lillancourt,  who  had  but  taken  command  of 
the  government  on  the  day  of  his  arrival,  and  had  arranged 
with  him  to  furnish,  from  the  garrison  of  Santo  Domingo,  a 
detachment  from  the  regiments  Gatinois,  Agenois,  and  Tour- 
raine,  3,000  men,  100  artillery,  100  dragoons,  100  pieces  of  field 
ordnance,  and  several  of  siege  artillery  and  mortars.  This 


404  Neivport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

whole  force  was  to  be  embarked  in  25  to  29  vessels  of  war  to  sail 
from  that  colony  on  the  i3th  of  August,  proceeding  directly  to 
the  Chesapeake,  "which  place  seems  to  be  indicated  by  your 
self,  General  Washington,  M.  de  la  Luzerne.  and  Comte  de 
Barras  as  the  best  point  of  operation  for  accomplishing  the  object 
proposed." 

The  admiral  also  referred  to  doing  all  in  his  power  to  procure 
the  1,200,000  livres. 

As  the  Santo  Domingo  colony  was  not  in  condition  to  furnish 
any  such  sum  he  offered  to  send  a  frigate  to  Havana  specially 
to  obtain  it,  adding,  "and  you  may  depend  upon  receiving 
that  amount. ' ' 

He  stated  specifically,  as  neither  himself  nor  the  troops  com 
manded  by  the  Marquis  de  St.  Simon  could  remain  after  Octo 
ber  15,  therefore  "I  shall  be  greatly  obliged  if  you  will  employ 
me  promptly  and  effectually  within  that  time,  whether  against 
the  maritime  or  land  forces  of  our  enemy." 

EVERYTHING    READY    TO    PROCEED    IMMEDIATELY 

The  reasons  given  by  the  Count  de  Grasse  for  his  inability  to 
leave  the  troops  beyond  that  period  were  presented  in  this  letter, 
as  follows: 

First,  because  part  of  them  are  under  the  orders  of  the  Spanish  generals 
and  have  been  obtained  only  on  the  promise  that  they  shall  be  returned 
by  the  time  they  will  be  wanted;  and,  secondly,  because  the  other  part  are 
destined  to  the  garrison  of  Santo  Domingo,  and  can  not  be  spared  from  that 
duty  to  M.  de  Lillancourt.  The  entire  expedition,  in  regard  to  those  troops, 
has  been  concerted  only  in  consequence  of  your  request,  without  even  the 
previous  knowledge  of  the  ministers  of  France  and  Spain.  I  have  thought 
myself  authorized  to  assume  this  responsibility  for  the  common  cause,  but 
I  should  not  dare  so  far  to  change  the  plans  they  have  adopted,  as  to 
remove  so  considerable  a  body  of  troops. 

You  clearly  perceive  the  necessity  of  making  the  best  use  of  the  time 
that  will  remain  for  action.  I  hope  the  frigate  which  takes  this  letter  will 
have  such  dispatch  that  everything  may  be  got  in  readiness  by  the  time 
of  my  arrival,  and  that  we  may  proceed  immediately  to  fulfill  the  designs 
in  view,  the  success  of  which  I  ardently  desire. 

With  this  gloriously  encouraging  response  the  Concorde  put 
back  to  Newport. 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  405 

TO    HOLD    ON    TO    CORNWALLIS 

Washington  promptly  informed  L,afayette  of  the  return  of 
the  Concorde  and  of  the  intended  sailing  of  Comte  de  Grasse  on 
August  13  with  25  to  29  sail  of  the  line  and  a  considerable  body 
of  land  forces,  his  destination  being  the  Chesapeake,  and  to  look 
out  for  him. 

He  gave  orders  to  take  such  a  position  as  would  best  enable 
him  to  prevent  the  enemy's  sudden  retreat  through  North 
Carolina. 

The  chief  added  ' '  you  shall  hear  further  from  me  as  soon  as 
I  have  concerted  plans  and  formed  dispositions  for  sending  a 
reenforcement  from  hence;"  also,  "you  will  take  measures  for 
opening  a  communication  with  Comte  de  Grasse  the  moment  he 
arrives,  and  \vill  concert  measures  with  him  for  making  the  best 
use  of  your  joint  forces  until  you  receive  aid  from  this  quarter." 

CHANGE    OF    FRONT 

In  the  confidence  and  counsel-  of  his  own  thoughts  Washing 
ton,  in  the  face  of  his  persistent  designs  upon  New  York, 
promptly  adopted  his  plan  of  future  actions  to  the  exigencies 
of  circumstances.  In  his  diary,  entry  of  July  14,  he  states  his 
position  in  these  precise  terms: 

Matters  having  now  come  to  a  crisis  and  a  decided  plan  to  be  determined 
on,  I  was  obliged,  from  the  shortness  of  Count  de  Grasse's  promised  stay 
on  this  coast,  the  apparent  disinclination  of  their  naval  officers  to  force 
the  harbor  of  New  York,  the  feeble  compliance  of  the  States  with  my 
requisitions  for  men  hitherto,  and  the  little  prospect  of  greater  exertion  in 
the  future,  to  give  up  all  ideas  of  attacking  New  York  and  instead  thereof 
to  remove  the  French  troops  and  the  American  army  to  the  Head  of  Elk 
to  be  transported  to  Virginia  for  the  purpose  of  cooperating  with  the  force 
from  the  West  Indies  against  the  troops  in  that  State. 

A    DELICATE    POINT 

In  his  letter  accompanying  the  intelligence  of  De  Grasse's 
proposed  sailing  from  the  Chesapeake,  De  Barras  intimated  that 
that  officer  did  not  require  him  to  form  a  junction  with  him,, 
leaving  him  to  engage  in  any  other  expedition  in  his  discretion. 


406  Newport  to  Yorktoiun,  1781 

It  was  evident  from  the  tenor  of  the  context  there  was  a 
feeling  of  unrest,  if  not  of  dissatisfaction,  concerning  the  coming 
of  De  Grasse,  and  De  Barras  gave  notice  of  his  own  proposed 
departure  on  an  expedition  against  Newfoundland. 

The  incongruity  of  such  a  diversion  under  coincident  circum 
stances  called  forth  the  utmost  remonstrance  consistent  with  the 
quasi  freedom  of  initiative  on  the  part  of  De  Barras  in  naval 
affairs.  Both  the  army  chiefs  suggested  the  danger  and  inexpe- 
dience  of  such  a  movement  from  the  standpoint  of  direct  results 
of  the  presence  of  the  fleet  and  consequent  danger  from  the 
probable  presence  of  Rodney  following  De  Grasse  up  from  the 
West  Indies. 

Their  position  led  to  the  determination  of  De  Barras  to  sail 
to  the  Chesapeake  and  join  De  Grasse  when  the  moment  for 
that  opportune  movement  arrived. 

ANOTHER    OUTLOOK    ACROSS    THE    HUDSON 

Not  even  yet  despairing  of  an  opportunity  to  strike  a  deci 
sive  blow  against  the  enemy's  chief  stronghold,  Washington, 
accompanied  by  ROCHAMBEAU,  De  Beville,  quartermaster- 
general  of  the  French,  and  Duport ail,  engineer  in  chief  of  the 
Americans,  crossing  the  Hudson  at  Dobbs  Feny  on  July  18, 
with  an  escort  of  150  men  of  the  New  Jersey  line,  spent  a  day 
on  the  commanding  grounds  between  the  ferry  and  Fort  Lee, 
studying  the  British  positions. 

The  determination  to  make  his  capital  stroke  at  New  York 
was  still  so  strong  that,  anticipating  the  arrival  of  Comte 
de  Grasse  with  his  fleet,  Washington  communicated  with  him 
in  a  letter  (July  21)  in  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU'S  cipher, 
bringing  to  his  attention  the  fact  of  the  junction  of  the  two 
armies,  their  position  and  strength,  and  that  of  the  enemy. 
He  went  further,  explaining  the  plans  in  view.  This  letter 
was  dispatched  to  General  Forman,  who  still  held  post  at  Mon- 
mouth,  with  instructions  to  keep  a  constant  lookout  on  the 
heights,  and  to  go  aboard  the  flagship  and  deliver  the  letter  to 
•De  Grasse  in  person. 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  ij8i  407 

On  the  same  day  (July  21)  at  Dobbs  Ferry,  Washington 
replied  to  a  letter  of  the  i5th  from  Comte  de  Barras,  who  had 
declined  to  take  his  squadron  to  the  Chesapeake  at  that  time. 
-The  chief  thought  his  objections  were  founded  on  propriety, 
but  was  certain  could  the  measure  have  taken  place  it  would 
have  been  attended  with  most  valuable  consequences. 

The  reason  in  the  mind  of  De  Barras  was  the  imprudence  of 
risking  any  new  enterprise  which  might  disconcert  the  gen 
eral  plan  in  view  and  delay  junction  with  De  Grasse. 

AN   ENTERPRISE    WITHOUT    RESULT 

A  detachment  from  his  fleet  had  made  an  attack,  under 
command  of  Baron  d'Angely,  against  Huntington  Bay  on  the 
Sound,  which  was  not  a  success,  for  which,  however,  Wash 
ington  thanked  him  for  directing  the  attempt  to  be  made. 

It  appears  a  body  of  refugees  in  considerable  force  had  estab 
lished  a  fort  and  camp  at  Lloyds  Neck,  near  Huntington  Bay. 
A  project  was  set  on  foot  to  dislodge  them.  The  duty  was  put 
down  for  the  fleet,  not  then  very  busy,  at  Newport.  Part  of  it, 
3  frigates  with  a  landing  party  of  250  French  troops  under 
Baron  d'Angely,  was  assigned  to  the  venture.  The  expedi 
tion  sailed  July  10.  In  the  Sound  they  were  joined  by  some 
American  volunteers  in  boats  and  several  Fairfield  pilots.  On 
the  1 2th  the  party  landed  on  the  Neck,  at  a  point  near  the 
fort.  They  were  not  long  in  ascertaining  the  position  not 
assailable  without  artillery.  The  attacking  party  hastily 
departed  to  their  vessels,  with  several  wounded  by  cannon  from 
the  fort.  The  enemy's  vessels  were  out  of  danger,  having 
taken  refuge  up  the  river  out  of  range  of  the  frigates. 

LAST    DASH    AT    NEW    YORK 

As  a  result  of  the  observations  of  the  i8th,  a  reconnoissance 
in  force,  consisting  of  about  5,000  Americans  and  Frenchmen, 
was  conducted  by  Washington,  in  person,  in  the  direction  of 
Kings  Bridge.  • 


408  Neiuport  to  York  town,  ij8i 

The  march  began  at  8  o'clock  on  July  21,  the  army  moving 
in  four  columns,  the  American  right  on  the  North  River  and 
left  on  the  Sawmill  River  roads. 

The  whole  army  was  at  Kings  Bridge  about  daylight  and 
formed  on  the  high  ground  in  the  rear  of  Fort  Independence 
extending  toward  Delancys  Mills.  Lauzun's  legion  and  Water- 
bury 's  Connecticut  militia  made  clean  work  of  their  part  of  the 
programme,  but  the  coveted  refugees  scattered  in  all  directions, 
managing  to  get  over  to  the  island  or  the  shipping  in  the  East 
River  with  but  small  loss. 

The  whole  movement  was  conducted  with  so  much  regularity 
and  alacrity  that  the  enemy  was  entirely  ignorant  of  the  pres 
ence  of  the  allied  Armies  until  the  whole  force  was  in  position 
(July  22)  ready  for  action. 

After  forming  his  lines,  Washington,  with  ROCHAMBEAU  and 
the  engineers,  availed  himself  of  the  facilities  for  reconnoitering 
the  enemy's  position  and  defenses,  beginning  at  Tippets  Hill 
opposite  the  enemy's  left,  taking  in  Fort  Charles,  a  redoubt 
near  Kings  Bridge,  a  fort  on  Cox  Hill  out  of  repair,  Forts  Tryon, 
Knyphausen,  and  Laurel  Hill,  found  to  be  formidable,  and  Fort 
George,  the  key  to  the  chain  of  works  on  a  hill  opposite. 

An  elevation  from  the  creek  east  of  Harlem  River,  and  a 
little  below,  was  found  to  command  the  opposite  shore  and  all 
the  plain  adjoining.  These  positions  were  near  the  old  lines 
of  defense  of  Washington's  army  in  1776. 

THE    CHIEFS    IN    A    DILEMMA 

The  next  day  (July  23)  was  spent  on  Frogs  Neck. 

Among  the  incidents  of  this  brave  movement  may  be  repeated 
this  one:  While  the  engineers  were  making  geometrical  calcula 
tions  to  ascertain  the  width  of  an  inlet  on  Long  Island,  the  two 
generals  who  had  crossed  to  a  small  island  off  the  shore,  fell 
asleep  under  a  hedge  within  cannon  range  of  the  enemy.  'The 
Count  aroused  hastened  to  awaken  Washington,  reminding  him 
they  had  forgotten  the  time  of  the  tide. 


Newport  to  York  town,  1781  409 

The  generals  hastily  returned  to  the  dam  breast  by  which 
they  had  crossed  the  inlet  from  the  mainland,  only  to  find  it 
submerged.  Two  small  boats  having  been  brought  to  their 
relief,  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU  jumped  into  them  with 
their  saddles  and  horse  accoutrements  and  were  rowed  back  to 
shore.  Two  American  dragoons,  excellent  swimmers,  led  their 
horses  into  the  water,  the  rest  of  the  animals  being  driven  after. 
The  remainder  of  the  party  were  also  safely  brought  over, 
the  experience  lasting  an  hour. 

Having  finished  the  reconnoiter,  with  but  a  few  harmless 
shots  fired  at  them,  the  whole  force  at  6  p.  m.  returned  toward 
Dobbs  Ferry  in  reverse  order,  reaching  camp  about  midnight. 

A  vidette  now  brought  additional  intelligence  of  Cornwallis's 
continued  retreat  with  Lafayette  at  his  heels,  Wayne,  whom 
ROCHAMBEAU  calls  "a  brave  but  very  ardent  officer "  in  the 
van. 

CORNWALLIS    HARASSED 

The  young  Frenchman  with  his  Continental  light  infantry 
was  miking  things  exceedingly  lively  on  the  James.  He  was 
harassing  Cornwallis  to  such  an  extent  that  ROCHAMBEAU  made 
Lafayette's  movements  the  theme  of  a  complimentary  report  to 
his  King's  minister  of  war. 

CUXTON  THWARTED 

The  reconnoissance  accomplished  what  was  anticipated. 
Clinton  was  compelled  to  abandon  his  projected  operations  in 
the  south. 

Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU  were  in  possession  of  informa 
tion  that  the  British  general  had  received  orders  to  embark  a 
strong  force  and  engage  Washington  east  of  the  Hudson.  Fail 
ing  of  reenforcements  from  the  north,  Cornwallis  was  forced 
out  of  inland  Virginia  by  Lafayette  and  took  refuge  at  the 
entrance  to  Chesapeake  Bay,  where  he  was  ordered  to  occupy 
a  permanent  and  fortified  position  which  might  be  reached 
by  water  from  New  York. 


4io  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

CORNWALLIS   STILL   RUNNING 

On  the  heels  of  this  gratifying  news  came  the  additional 
information  that  Cornwallis  was  retreating  by  the  James  River 
to  Richmond,  and  thence  to  Williamsburg,  the  old  Virginia 
capital,  about  12  miles  from  York. 

A  letter  from  Lafayette  at  Williamsburg  reported  Cornwallis 
had  fled  to  Portsmouth,  from  whence  he  proposed,  under  orders 
from  Clinton,  to  ship  part  of  his  army  to  New  York. 

During  the  months  of  July  and  August  the  valiant  French 
man  in  the  uniform  of  the  Continentals,  having  driven  Corn 
wallis  from  pillar  to  post,  had  him  effectually  cornered  and 
proposed  to  hold  him.  He  notified  Washington  of  the  situa 
tion  and  urged  him  to  hasten  to  the  Englishman's  certain 
capture. 

The  arrival  of  reenforcements  changed  the  British  comman 
der's  programme.  The  earl  was  ordered  to  take  up  a  strong 
position  on  the  Chesapeake,  from  which  he  might  harass  Vir 
ginia  and  Maryland.  His  engineers  examined  Old  Point  Com 
fort,  Yorktown,  and  Gloucester. 

MAKES    HIS   STAND    AT   YORKTOWN 

Considering  the  positions  at  Yorktown  and  Gloucester  better 
for  the  purpose,  and  unable  to  proceed  by  land,  as  Lafayette 
controlled  the  situation  there,  Cornwallis  transferred  his  forces 
by  water  from  Portsmouth  to  those  points,  taking  possession  on 
August  i  and  2. 

His  entire  force  consisted  of  7,000  men,  and  fortifications  were 
begun  at  once. 

LAFAYETTK.  TIGHTENS    HIS   GRIP 

As  soon  as  Cornwallis  took  this  position  Lafayette  moved 
down  from  Williamsburg  to  within  a  few  miles  of  the  British 
lines. 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  411 

BRITISH    RECRUITS 

Affairs  were  now  getting  lively  all  around.  The  British  garri 
son  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  had  been  strengthened  by  a  convoy  of 
3,000  recruits  from  Cork,  Ireland. 

On  the  nth  of  August,  with  the  arrival  of  recruits  and  the 
Pensacola  garrison,  notwithstanding  the  forces  dispatched  to 
the  south,  the  effective  strength  of  the  British  at  New  York 
was  more  than  12,000. 

STRENGTH    OF    THE    ALLIED    ARMIES 

The  whole  strength  of  Washington's  two  divisions  and 
ROCHAMBEAU'S  French  corps  combined  footed  up  9,000  men. 
Of  this  number  the  return  of  ROCHAMBEAU'S  effectives  showed 
that  upward  of  one-half  were  Frenchmen. 

FEARS   OF    CORNWALLIS'S    RELIEF 

From  Malvern  Hill,  Va.,  L/afayette  reported  to  Washington 
the  British  light  infantry,  the  guards,  the  Thirtieth  Regi 
ment,  and  the  Queen's  Rangers,  under  orders  for  New  York. 

A  fleet  of  20  sail  arriving  at  New  York  about  the  middle  of 
August  gave  rise  to  much  excitement  in  camp  in  the  high 
lands,  concluding  it  came  from  the  Chesapeake  with  the  Corn- 
wallis  detachment,  but  it  proved  to  be  a  body  of  Hessian  recruits 
from  the  other  side. 

The  skillful  tactics  of  Lafayette  had  at  length  forced  Corn- 
wallis  into  a  trap,  where  he  held  him  with  inferior  numbers  as 
in  a  vise. 

The  apprehension  of  Washington  with  regard  to  the  force  of 
Cornwallis  during  these  maneuvers  was  not  his  getting  away 
from  his  embarrassments  with  Lafayette  ;  it  was  the  possi 
bility  of  his  whole  force  or  part  of  it  being  taken  off  to  New  York 
as. a  reenforcement  for  that  post,  and  consequent  raising  of  a 
barrier  to  all  hope  of  its  capture  by  siege  or  assault. 

Conditional  instructions  had  been  forwarded  by  Clinton, 
directing  Cornwallis  to  send  a  detachment  to  New  York  as 
soon  as  he  was  safely  established  in  the  fortified  post  he  was 
directed  to  construct  on  the  Chesapeake. 


412  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

ROCHAMBEAU    PRECEDES    A    BRITISH    FLOTILLA 

The  forced  marches  enjoined  on  the  French  to  the  Hudson 
had  made  victualing  very  difficult.  Added  to  this,  a  vessel 
carrying  four  days'  bread  rations  to  the  corps  was  taken  by 
an  English  expedition  sent  on  a  reconnoissance  up  the  Hudson. 

As  a  result  the  French  troops  were  put  on  rations  of  4 
ounces  per  day,  rice  and  additional  meat  in  place  of  bread, 
to  which  the  men  submitted  cheerfully. 

In  order  to  prevent  a  recurrence  of  this  annoyance  the 
Count  dispatched  a  battery  of  12  pounders  and  mortars  under 
Captain  Verton  to  a  narrow  part,  of  the  river  to  await  the 
return  of  the  British  flotilla.  When  it  came  in  sight  a  spir 
ited  artillery  duel  took  place,  in  which  the  enemy  severely 
suffered  and  limped  away  downstream. 

APPROACHING    A    CRISIS 

The  persistence  of  Lafayette,  hovering  011  the  front,  flank, 
and  rear  of  the  much  perturbed  earl,  so  frustrated  or  defeated 
his  tactics  that  he  was  unable  to  carry  out  the  injunctions  of  his 
chief  in  New  York.  In  the  meantime,  the  fleet  of  De  Grasse 
arrived  in  the  Chesapeake,  greatly  to  his  dismay  and  ultimate 
' '  bottling  up. ' '  After  the  young  Frenchman  and  his  American 
Continentals  fairly  set  their  grip,  no  part  of  Cornwallis's  army 
was  able  to  get  away.  It  was  now  only  a  matter  of  a  little  more 
strength  of  numbers,  his  force  at  all  times  having  been  greatly 
inferior  to  the  European  veterans  of  his  antagonist. 

This  relief  was  fortunately  near  at  hand  and  soon  in  evidence. 

In  the  meantime  that  valiant  Rhode  Islander,  Greene,  who 
had  succeeded  the  badly  beaten  English- American  Gates,  was 
making  splendid  headway  against  the  enemy  in  the  Carolinas. 

Everything  now  pointed  to  a  crisis  and  a  culmination. 

ANTICIPATING    DE    GRASSE 

From  his  camp  at  Phillipsburg  (Aug.  17),  in  anticipation 
of  the  arrival  of  the  French  fleet  from  the  Indies,  Washington 
hastened  an  express  to  inform  Comte  de  Grasse  of  the  abandon- 


Newport  to  York  town,  ij8i  413 

ment  of  the  enterprise  against  New  York,  and  of  turning  his 
attention  toward  the  south.  A  reason,  additional  to  the  news 
from  the  Count,  was  the  arrival  at  New  York  of  20  sail  bringing 
in,  among  other  warlike  merchandise,  3,000  Hessian  recruits 
for  the  ranks  of  the  mercenaries  of  the  English.  From  this 
fact  he  writes — 

We  have  determined  to  remove  the  whole  of  the  French  army  and  a 
large  detachment  of  the  American  army  to  the  Chesapeake  to  meet  your 
excellency. 

The  chief  then  proceeds  to  a  discussion  of  the  "principal 
cases  which  present  themselves,  and  upon  which  we  shall 
be  obliged  ultimately  to  form  our  plans,"  which  he  requested 
his  excellency  to  revolve  in  his  mind  and  prepare  his  opinion 
by  ' '  the  time  we  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you  in 
Virginia." 

He  proposed  sending  General  Duportail  to  give  information 
as  to  the  mode  of  attacking  Charleston  if  that  was  to  be  under 
taken,  as  he  was  present  during  the  siege. 

This  important  letter  was  signed  jointly  by  Washington  and 
ROCHAMBEAU. 

NO    CASH    FOR    THE    CAMPAIGN 

The  Livingston  mansion,  at  the  time  of  which  we  speak,  was 
the  headquarters  of  General  Washington.  Having  abandoned 
the  capture  of  New  York  as  impracticable  for  lack  of  superior 
naval  force,  the  letters  of  Lafayette  strengthened  the  suggestion 
and  his  own  conclusions  as  to  the  demand  for  a  movement  to 
the  south. 

While  in  this  state  of  mind  it  happened  that  Robert  Morris, 
superintendent  of  finance,  and  Richard  Peters,  secretary  of  the 
board  of  war,  were  guests  at  headquarters.  Revolving  in  his 
mind  the  embarrassment  of  future  operations,  owing  to  lack 
of  resources  in  money  and  material,  the  general  in  chief  sud 
denly  turning  to  Peters  remarked: 

"What  can  you  do  for  me?" 


414  Newport  to  Yorktown,  ij8i 

"With  money,  everything;  without  it,  nothing,"  replied 
Peters,  casting  an  inquiring  glance  at  Morris.  ' '  Let  me  know 
the  sum,"  said  the  resourceful  financier. 

The  rest  of  the  morning  the  chief  was  busy  over  his  figures 
and  estimates  to  meet  the  requirements  of  an  autumn  campaign 
in  Virginia.  The  calculations  were  submitted,  arrangements 
were  promptly  made  for  the  necessary  funds,  which,  ho\vever, 
being  of  the  fiat  variety,  presented  poor  encouragement  in  actual 
test. 

ROCH  AM  BEAU'S  LOAN 

The  only  recourse  for  real  fnoijey  was  to  turn  to  ROCHAM- 
BEAU,  who  had  control  of  the  King's  war  chest.  The  Count 
accepted  a  promise  to  return  the  sum  by  the  following  October. 
Twenty  thousand  dollars  in  coin  were  handed  over  to  Washing 
ton  for  the  purpose. 

It  was  French  money  which  opened  the  means  and  a  French 
man  who  paved  the  way  to  the  triumph  at  York  town. 

It  was  at  this  critical  moment  Washington  received  later 
information  from  Count  de  Grasse  that  he  was  prepared  to  sail 
from  Cape  Francois,  West  Indies  (August  13)  for  the  Chesa 
peake,  one  of  the  two  points  of  concentration  indicated  to  him. 

EMBARRASSING 

The  general  in  chief  again  turned  his  attention  to  the  fleet  at 
Newport,  particularly  as  Comte  de  Barras  was  more  strongly 
impressed  than  ever  against  leaving  that  harbor. 

In  giving  his  own  reasons  (July  30)  for  desisting  from 
further  representing  the  advantages  which  would  result  from 
preventing  a  junction  of  the  enemy's  force  at  New  York  and 
blocking  up  those  now  in  Virginia,  Washington  was  fearful 
in  event  of  disaster  and  the  loss  or  damage  to  the  fleet,  it  might 
be  ' '  ascribed  to  my  obstinacy  in  urging  a  measure  to  which  his 
own  (De  Barras)  judgment  was  opposed,  and  the  execution  of 
which  might  impede  his  junction  with  the  West  Indies  fleet  and 
thwart  the  views  of  Comte  de  Grasse." 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  415 

PREPARING    FOR    THE    FIELD 

The  combined  armies  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  Phillips- 
burg,  in  Westchester  County,  N.  Y.,  engaged  in  these  move 
ments  and  maneuvers  toward  the  British  positions  on  York 
Island  until  August  19,  when  suddenly  swinging  into  column 
they  disappeared  toward  the  ferry. 

The  receipt  of  definite  news  from  De  Grasse,  based  upon  a 
fixed  purpose  as  to  the  time  of  departure  for  the  Chesapeake, 
and  approximating  his  arrival,  as  we  have  seen,  very  summarily 
changed  the  posture  of  affairs  from  the  direction  of  New  York. 

Comte  de  Fersen,  first  aid  to  ROCHAMBEAU,  was  ordered 
with  quick  dispatch  to  Newport  and  Providence,  to  hasten  the 
embarkation  of  the  artillery  and  prepare  for  the  departure  of 
the  fleet. 

Having  communicated  the  cheerful  news  to  Washington, 
ROCHAMBEAU  began  preparations  with  De  Barras  for  an  early 
junction  with  De  Grasse,  and  for  bringing  up  his  heavy  ord 
nance  and  detachment  left  with  De  Choisy. 

On  August  19,  Washington  assigned  General  Heath  to  the 
command  of  all  the  troops  remaining  in  the  department,  com 
prising  the  Second  New  Hampshire,  Tenth  Massachusetts,  Fifth 
Connecticut  troops  of  the  line,  Sheldon's  Horse,  the  Corps  of 
Invalids,  Third  Regiment  of  Artillery,  and  the  State  troops  and 
militia,  to  insure  the  safety  of  West  Point  and  the  posts  in  the 
highlands.  His  orders  were  to  keep  the  enemy  at  New  York 
from  reenforcing  the  armies  in  the  south,  and  from  harassing 
the  inhabitants  of  the  coast. 

He  further  gave  very  specific  instructions,  together  with  gen 
eral  directions  for  the  protection  and  covering  of  the  country 
and  the  northern  and  western  frontiers  of  the  States,  assuming 
his  force  adequate.  As  a  rule  he  was  to  act  on  the  defensive 
only,  but  not  to  hesitate  giving  a  blow  to  the  enemy  should  a 
fair  opportunity  present  itself. 

He  directed  the  north  side  of  Croton  River  as  the  most  eligi 
ble  position  from  which  to  execute  his  orders. 

The  redoubt  on  the  east  side  of  Dobbs  Ferry  was  ordered 
demolished  and  the  block  house  on  the  other  side  held  or 


416  £fewp&ri  to  York  town,  ij8i 

evacuated    and    destroyed,    as    thought    proper.       The    water 
guards  were  to  be  held  against  surprise. 

On  August  20  the  French  troops  were  returned  to  their  for 
mer  camp  (No.  15)  at  North  Castle,  a  march  of  22  miles.  On 
the  same  day  at  10  a.  m.  Washington's  own  detachment  left  its 
camp  on  the  road 'near  the  river  to  Verplancks  Point  and  began 
crossing  at  Kings  Ferry.  By  sunrise  the  next  morning  his 
entire  force  was  at  Stony  Point,  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Hudson.  This  consisted  of  a  corps  of  picked  American  troops 
about  2,000  strong. 

ROCHAMBEAU    IN    MOTION 

In  informing  ROCHAMBEAU  in  a  dispatch,  Washington  added , 
"I  hope  your  army  will  be  enabled  to  cross  with  the  same 
facility  when  they  arrive." 

The  French  arm}7  moved  by  way  of  White  Plains,  North 
Castle,  Pines  Bridge,  and  Crompond,  where  it  camped  (No.  16) 
August  21. 

At  this  camp  ROCHAMBEAU  received  a  courier  with  a  note 
from  the  chief,  ' '  I  shall  be  happy  in  your  company  to-morrow 
(22d)  at  dinner  at  my  quarters  and  will  meet  you  at  the  ferry 
by  8  o'clock,  when  we  will  either  be  furnished  with  some  cold 
repast  en  passant  or  will  take  you  to  my  quarters  about  3  miles 
from  the  ferry,  where  you  shall  be  introduced  to  a  warm 
breakfast." 

On  the  day  referred  to  («22d)  ROCHAMBEAU,  after  a  march  of 
1 8  miles,  camped  (No.  17)  at  Kings  Ferry. 

On  this  day  ( 2 ist), Washington  dispatched  this  information  to 
Lafayette,  ' '  The  troops  destined  for  the  southern  quarter  are 
now  in  motion.  The  American  detachment  is  already  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Hudson.  The  French  army  I  expect  will  reach 
the  ferry  this  day.  Our  march  will  be  continued  with  all  the 
dispatch  that  our  circumstances  will  admit." 

Fearful  of  an  effort  on  the  part  of  Cornwallis  to  retreat,  upon 
beholding  the  French  fleet  in  portentious  reality,  Washington 
expressed  to  Lafayette  his — 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  417 

most  earnest  wish  that  the  land  and  naval  forces  which  you  will  have 
with  you  may  so  combine  their  operations  that  the  British  may  not  be  able 
to  escape. 

How  this  should  be  done  the  chief  would  not  dictate,  con 
sidering  the  various  and  extended  movements  the  marquis 
had  made,  ' '  and  the  great  opportunities  for  observation  you  have 
enjoyed,  of  which  I  am  persuaded  your  military  genius  and 
judgment  will  lead  you  to  make  the  best  improvement." 

The  chief  also  inclosed  for  Comte  de  Grasse  a  letter  ' '  left 
open  for  your  (Lafayette's)  observation  and  committed  to 
your  care  for  its  safe  conveyance." 

He  also  requested  the  marquis  to  be  pleased  to  have  ' '  water 
craft  sent  to  Head  of  Elk  by  the  8th  of  September  to  facilitate 
the  embarkation  of  the  troops  who  will  be  there  by  that  day." 

DE    BARRAS   TO   JOIN   DE   GRASSE 

Still  another  piece  of  news  in  the  grand  cooperating  activity 
was  word  from  De  Barras  of  his  intended  departure  from  New 
port  with  his  fleet,  sailing  August  21-25,  to  join  De  Grasse 
with  8  ships  of  the  line,  4  frigates,  10  transports,  and  8  Amer 
ican  vessels. 

The  great  anxiety  in  the  mind  of  the  commander  in  chief, 
notwithstanding  the  favorable  trend  of  events,  was  the  move 
ments  of  De  Grasse.  He  had  heard  of  his  intended  sailing  for 
the  Chesapeake  but  nothing  of  his  arrival.  He  feared  the 
English  fleet,  by  first  gaining  possession  of  the  Chesapeake, 
might  frustrate  his  plans.  He  still  entertained  some  solicitude 
concerning  De  Barras  sailing  on  the  date  he  had  named. 

Upon  Lafayette  he  enjoined  "if  the  retreat  of  Cornwallis  by 
sea  should  be  cut  off  by  the  arrival  of  either  of  the  French  fleets 
you  will  do  all  in  your  power  to  prevent  it  by  land. ' ' 

FRENCH    ARMY    CROSSES    THE    HUDSON 

The  next  two  days  (23d  and   24th)  were  occupied  in  trans 
porting  the  French  forces,  with  all  their  baggage  and  stores,  to 
the  west  shore  of  the  Hudson,  under  protection  of  the  American 
guns  at  Verplancks  Point. 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 27 


4i 8  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

In  the  meantime  Washington  was  deeply  occupied  in  giving 
orders  and  making  dispositions  of  his  own  forces. 

ON   THK    ROAD 

The  main  body  of  Americans  under  General  Lincoln  took 
the  roads  leading  through  Trenton,  one  column  moving  through 
Ramapo  Valley  and  the  pass  to  Morristown,  another  through 
the  upper  route  above  the  Ringwood  Iron  Works. 

The  French  troops  followed  the  river  route  by  Tappan  and 
the  Hackensack  Valley  on  the  west  side,  making  a  demonstra 
tion  at  Newark,  Brunswick,  and  Perth  Amboy,  of  a  purpose 
to  attack  the  British  posts  on  Staten  Island,  and  ultimately  on 
New  York  Island  itself. 

The  French  column  advanced  to  Suiferns,  16  miles.  This 
was  the  real  beginning  of  the  march  of  the  allied  armies  for 
Yorktown.  The  number  of  Americans  present  was  about  2,000, 
much  less  than  one-half  the  force  of  the  French. 

The  American  detachment  assembled  in  the  vicinity  of 
Chatham  on  the  24th  and  the  French  on  the  day  following. 

In  order  to  give  the  feint  an  appearance  of  reality  every  prep 
aration  was  made  for  an  attack,  erecting  ovens  at  Chatham  4 
miles  from  Staten  Island,  collecting  forage,  and  constructing 
boats.  M.  de  Villemansy,  commissary,  did  as  much  in  deceiv 
ing  Clinton  by  building  ovens  and  victualing  the  French  troops 
as  could  have  been  done  by  building  redoubts  and  charging 
them  with  cannon  and  musketry. 

The  question  of  pay  of  the  American  troops  selected  for  the 
march  was  getting  serious.  In  his  letter  from  Chatham  (August 
27)  to  the  superintendent  of  finance,  Washington  called  atten 
tion  to  their  having  shown  marks  of  great  discontent.  The 
service  on  hand  was  not  suited  to  the  inclinations  of  the  northern 
regiments,  but,  said  the  chief,  ' '  I  make  no  doubt  that  a  '  douceur ' 
of  a  little  hard  money  would  put  them  in  proper  temper.  Part 
will  be  better  than  none. ' ' 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  419 

FRENCH    CASH   TO   THE    RELIEF 

On  August  24  Colonel  Laurens  put  into  Boston  on  his  return 
from  his  special  mission  to  France,  having  in  his  custody 
2,500,000  livres  as  an  installment  of  the  King's  bounty  of 
6,000,000  livres  recently  donated  to  the  United  States. 

This  opportune  sum  quieted  any  further  discontent  among 
the  troops  on  the  march  concerning  pay,  and  enabled  Mr. 
Morris  to  make  good  his  obligation  to  ROCHAMBEAU. 

The  Comte  having  received  word  from  De  Barras  of  his  pur 
pose  to  join  the  fleet  in  the  Chesapeake,  sailing  from  New 
port  August  2 1 ,  should  the  winds  prove  favorable,  Washington 
sent  the  information  forward  by  express  (August- 24)  to  meet 
the  West  Indies  fleet  upon  its  arrival. 

He  also  estimated,  judging  from  the  progress  made  on  the 
march,  the  arrival  of  the  allied  armies  at  the  Head  of  Elk  by 
the  8th  of  September,  and  urged  sending  to  that  point  by  that 
time  all  his  frigates  and  transports  in  order  to  hasten  the 
arrival  of  the  allied  armies  at  the  seat  of  war. 

ROCHAMBEAU' s  RUSE 

The  march  was  resumed  August  27,  advancing  to  Pompton, 
17  miles,  and  August  28  to  Whippany,  16  miles,  a  short  dis 
tance  east  of  Morristown,  which  had  the  appearance  of  a  con 
templated  advance  on  Sandy  Hook  in  order  to  cover  the 
entrance  of  the  French  vessels  for  an  attack  on  New  York.  In 
order  to  strengthen  this  belief  the  allied  troops  went  into  camp 
August  29,  but  ROCHAMBEAU  by  a  quick  movement  suddenly 
swung  to  the  right,  moving  rapidly  to  the  Delaware  the  next 
day,  camping  that  night  at  Bullion's  Tavern,  16  miles. 

The  two  armies  now  fairly  on  the  way,  the  general  and 
Count  rode  ahead  (August  30),  arriving  at  Philadelphia  the 
next  day. 

On  the  3ist  the  main  column  of  the  French  encamped  at 
Somerset,  17  miles;  September  i,  Princeton,  13  miles;  and  on 
the  2d  at  Trenton,  12  miles.  Finding  the  water  low,  the  men 
forded  the  Delaware  without  difficulty. 


42O  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

CLINTON  INFORMKD 

It  was  not  until  the  armies  had  crossed  the  Delaware  that 
Clinton  learned  that  the  French  army  had  marched  south 
with  the  American  forces  to  engage  Cornwallis.  Sir  Henry, 
having  advised  himself  of  the  condition  of  the  forts,  forces, 
and  materials  of  war  in  Rhode  Island,  formed  a  plan  to  seize 
the  French  stores  at  Providence  and  capture  their  fleet  at 
Newport.  Clinton  proposed  to  undertake  the  former  and  Ad 
miral  Graves  the  latter,  both  having  overwhelming  superiority 
in  their  favor.  A  delay  in  getting  started,  however,  lapped 
over  the  date  of  departure  of  De  Barras  to  join  De  Grasse  in 
the  Chesapeake.  The  game  had  flown  and  the  attack  was 
abandoned.  He  appeased  his  impotent  exasperation,  however, 
by  informing  Cornwallis  of  what, he  might  expect  from  the 
French  and  Americans,  but  nothing  from  him.  He  began 
depredations  along  the  New  England  coast.  For  the  ear  of 
Washington  Jie  threatened  an  attack  on  the  posts  in  the  high 
lands.  General  Heath  was  prepared  for  such  a  demonstration, 
having  about  15  veteran  regiments,  Continental  and  militia,  at 
his  command,  and  full  instructions,  as  we  have  seen.  These 
menaces  were  without  effect  on  Washington's  actions.  The 
atrocities  of  the  traitor  Arnold  at  New  London,  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  birthplace  (Norwich)  and  among  the  companions  of  his 
childhood  and  youth,  heartless  as  they  were,  proved  not  only  a 
disgrace  to  British  arms,  but  a  source  of  intense  hate  among  the 
people. 

At  Trenton  the  chief  quartermaster  was  directed  to  take  up 
all  small  craft  on  the  Delaware  River  for  the  transportation  of 
troops  from  that  point  to  Christiana  Creek,  where  the  overland 
portage  of  impedimenta  would  begin. 

Having  traversed  New  Jersey,  after  crossing  the  Delaware 
into  Pennsylvania,  the  French  column  moved  down  the  river 
road,  camping  on  the  night  of  the  3d  at  Red  Lion  Tavern,  15 
miles,  taking  Bristol  on  the  way,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  4th, 
after  a  march  of  15  miles,  rested  for  the  night  on  the  east 
-border  of  Philadelphia. 


FRENCH   UNIFORMS. 


Newport  to  York  town,  1781  421 

On  September  2  from  Philadelphia,  while  awaiting  the  com 
ing  tip  of  the  two  armies,  Washington  encouraged  Lafayette  by 
approval  of  his  tactical  skill  and  of  his  request  for  the  support 
of  the  local  militia,  and  informed  him  the  French  troops  under 
ROCHAMBEAU  and  an  American  corps  under  Major-General 
Lincoln  were  thus  far  en  route,  in  addition  to  the  land  force  of 
the  fleet. 

GREETED   AS   DELIVERERS 

The  next  day  was  spent  in  camp  furbishing  arms  and  accou- 
terments  for  the  parade  through  the  city. 

The  march  of  the  French  was  invested  with  all  the  charac 
teristics  of  a  triumphal  progress.  Along  the  route,  for  miles  on 
both  sides,  practically  the  whole  people  came  down  to  give 
expression  to  their  grateful  feelings  toward  the  regulars  sent 
over  by  the  French  King.  The  inhabitants  not  only  gathered 
to  do  homage  to  ROCHAMBEAU  and  his  men,  but  brought  with 
them  an  abundance  of  provisions,  conveyed  in  every  sort  of 
vehicle,  from  the  chariot  of  the  rich  to  the  ox  cart  and  sled 
of  the  poor. 

FRENCH    MILITARY    UNIFORMS 

The  following  is  a  description  of  the  style  of  uniforms  worn 
by  the  French  troops  under  ROCHAMBEAU  during  their  service 
in  America,  1780-1783,  as  given  in  the  ' '  1'Ordonnance  du  Roi. ' ' 

[The  figures  refer  to  the  illustrations.] 

75.  Infantry. — Uniform  white;  facings,  breast  and  collar,  red;  epau 
lettes,  red;  peruke,  white;  cap,  helmet  shape,  black  polished  leather  with 
black  plush  comb;  bandoliers,  white;  cartridge  box  and  bayonet  scabbard, 
polished  leather,  black;  musket,  flintlock. 

16.  Infantry  officers. — Coat  green;  facings  white,  collar  with  guimpe 
and  cuffs  red;  vest  with  skirt,  single-breasted,  red;  epaulettes,  silver  straps; 
baldric,  red,  trimmed  in  white;  sword  belt,  red;  breeches,  tight,  red;  boots, 
over  knee;  chapeau,  rim  up  front  and  back,  edged  with  white  and  cockade; 
sword,  straight  with  basket  hilt. 

7j.  Grenadier. — Coat  green;  facings  white;  collar,  cuffs,  and  epaulettes, 
red;  vest  with  short  skirt,  red,  faced  with  white;  breeches,  lemon;  leggings, 
white,  to  above  knees,  single  row  of  buttons  up  outside;  belts,  shoulder 
and  waist,  white;  bearskin,  black;  aiguillette,  white;  pompon,  white; 
musket,  flintlock. 


422  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

14.  ffussar. — Jacket,  tight  fitting,  dark-green  trimming;  breast,  gold; 
sleeves,  tight;  cuffs,  faced  to  a  point;  sash  and  embroidered  fobs,  red; 
breeches,  scarlet,  tight;  boots  with  branded  tops  and  tassels;  bandolier, 
red  with  yellow  polka  dots;  dolman,  lemon,  braided  in  gold  and  bordered 
with  fur;  cuffs,  fur  and  faced  on  outside  of  sleeve  to  near  elbow;  peruke; 
busby  black,  bag  red,  tassel  gold;  pompon,  white;  scimiter. 

12,  Dragoon. — Coat  green,  facings  and  linings  red,  lower  edges  of  skirt 
turned  back  and  fastened  with  lily  in  silver;  vest  white,  single  breasted, 
with  short  skirt;  pockets,  scalloped;  epaulettes,  silver,  with  fringe;  ban 
dolier,  green;  breeches,  drab  and  tight;  boots,  high  with  orange  tops  one- 
third  down;  helmet,  gold  with  black  comb  and  white  plume;  cavalry 
sword. 

ii .  Artillery. — Coat  red,  facings  green,  buttonholes  close  worked,  white; 
pockets  faced  with  green;  cuffs  green,  white  ruffles;  stock,  dark;  ruffle 
shirt  front;  vest  white,  single  breasted  with  skirt  and  buttonholes  open- 
worked;  epaulettes,  silver  with  fringe;  breeches,  white,  tight;  leggings, 
white,  carried  4  inches  above  knees,  one  row  of  buttons  up  outside;  wig, 
white;  chapeau,  raised  rim  four  points,  faced  top  rim  with  narrow  ruffle; 
small  sword. 

REVIEW  BY  CONGRESS 

In  this  style  the  soldiers  of  France  filed  off  in  the  presence 
of  Congress  assembled  to  review  them.  The  town  people,  too, 
were  out  in  force  to  extend  applause  to  the  Frenchmen  on  their 
march  through  the  streets  of  Philadelphia  on  that  glorious  6th 
of  September,  1781. 

The  same  night  the  regiments,  after  a  march  of  16  miles,  went 
into  camp  south  of  Chester. 

AN   OCCASION    FOR   HILARITY 

At  Chester  Washington  was  met  by  a  letter  from  General 
Gist  announcing  the  arrival  in  the  Chesapeake  of  De  Grasse, 
with  28  ships  of  the  line,  which  he  forthwith  (3  p.  m.)  passed 
to  the  President  of  Congress. 

The  incident  is  mentioned  that  so  great  was  the  emotion  of 
the  usually  impassioned  commander  in  chief  that,  standing  on 
the  river's  brink,  when  he  caught  sight  of  ROCHAMBEAU 
and  staff  approaching  by  water  he  waved  his  hat  most  vig 
orously.  The  equally  impassive  ROCHAMBEAU  was  more 
moved  by  the  novel  demonstrations  of  Washington  than  by  the 
expected  glad  tidings  of  De  Grasse. 


Newport  to  York  town,  1781  423 

DK  GRASSK'S  FLEET 

The  French  fleet  sent  out  from  France  under  the  command 
of  Admiral  Comtede  Grasse,  sailed  from  Brest,  March  22,  1781, 
bound  for  the  West  Indies  with  a  convoy  of  150  ships,  valued 
at  30,030,000  livres  ($6,000,000). 

The  event  was  the  occasion  of  a  great  popular  demonstration, 
the  minister  of  marine  from  Versailles  adding  by  his  presence 
to  the  ceremony  of  the  event. 

Before  the  end  of  April  the  fleet  arrived  at  Martinique,  break 
ing  the  British  blockade. 

On  August  5  De  Grasse,  in  compliance  with  his  promises  to 
Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU,  sailed  from  Santo  Domingo, 
touching  at  Havana  to  take  on  the  coin  promised  for  the  York- 
town  campaign. 

On  August  26  he  anchored  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  behind  the 
Middle  Ground  Banks,  having  aboard  his  ships  the  land  forces 
of  Saint-Simon. a  The  same  evening  the  officer  posted  by 
I^afayette  at  Cape  Henry  went  aboard  and  conveyed  all  de 
sired  information  of  the  Marquis'  position,  the  "  bottling  up " 
of  Cornwallis  and  the  expected  arrival  of  the  allied  armies. 

"Claude  Anne,  Marquis  de  Saint-Simon,  born  at  Chateau  le  Faye  in  1743,  came  of  a 
ducal  family  of  that  name  famous  in  French  wars  and  letters.  He  received  his  military 
education  at  the  artillery  school  of  Strassburg.  In  the  campaign  in  Flanders  he  served 
as  lieutenant  in  the  Regiment  Auvergne.  In  1775  he  was  raised  to  colonel  of  Regiment 
Touraine.  In  1779  he  participated  in  the  expedition  against  Martinique,  West  Indies. 

A  year  after  (March  i)  he  was  transferred  to  the  service  of  Spain  and  was  selected  to 
command  the  land  forces  sent  with  De  Grasse  in  the  operations  arranged  between 
France  and  Spain,  then  allies,  in  cooperation  with  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU  in 
Chesapeake  Bay. 

On  the  last  day  of  the  active  hostilities  of  the  siege,  while  commanding  in  the 
trenches,  'where  he  was  constantly  under  fire,  he  was  badly  wounded.  Comte  DE 
ROCHAMBEAU  wrote  of  him  officially  to  his  Government  as  "one  of  the  bravest  men 
that  lived." 

After  the  surrender  he  returned  with  his  troops  to  the  West  Indies.  At  the  conclu 
sion  of  peace  between  the  States  and  France  and  England  he  went  to  France,  where 
he  received  high  honors  in  decorations  and  entered  into  French  politics  as  member 
of  the  States-General  of  1789,  to  which  he  was  elected  by  the  old  nobility  of  Angou- 
mois.  He  sided  with  the  republican  movement,  but  not  with  the  revolutionary  acts  of 
violence  and  license,  which  he  strongly  opposed. 

In  consequence  he  withdrew  to  Spain  and  was  captain-general  of  Old  Castile.  He 
died  in  Spain  in  1820. 


424  Newport  to  Yorktown,  ij8i 

ST.  SIMON  AND    HIS    MEN 

The  land  contingent  under  Marquis  de  Saint  Simon,  number 
ing  3,600  men,  was  conveyed  up  the  James  River  to  Jamestown, 
less  than  12  miles  from  Cornwallis's  position,  where  it  disem 
barked  and  effected  a  junction  with  General  L,afayette. 

The  next  day  the  united  forces  entered  Williamsburg  and 
made  such  dispositions  as  to  prevent  the  escape  of  Cornwallis. 
A  detachment  of  observation  was  thrown  but  toward  Gloucester. 

The  Admiral  forthwith  established  a  blockade  of  York  River 
by  dispatching  four  ships  of  the  line  and  as  many  frigates  to 
that  point. a 

a  Francois  Joseph  Paul,  Comte  de  Grasse,  Marquis  de  Grasse-Tilly,  was  born  at 
Valette,  Provence,  in  1723;  died  at  Paris,  January  n,  1788. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  war  of  the  American  Revolution  he  was  in  command  of  a  74- 
gun  ship,  the  Robuste,  in  which  he  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  action  of  Ouessaiit  in 
July,  1778.  Returning  to  France  he  was  promoted  to  lieutenant-general  or  admiral  in 
consideration  of  his  services  with  D'Bstaing  during  his  operations  on  the  American 
coast  in  the  autumn  of  1779  and  under  De  Guichen  in  1780  in  his  engagement  with  Rod 
ney.  He  succeeded  De  Guichen,  who  had  succeeded  D'Estaing  in  command  of  the 
French  fleet  in  the  West  Indies,  and  was  charged  with  the  conduct  cf  naval  operations 
in  North  American  waters  in  conjunction  with  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU.  When 
appointed  to  this  important  place  of  authority  in  command  he  was  the  junior  of  De 
Barras,  but  by  virtue  of  his  advancement  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-general  in  the  naval 
armies  of  France  became  his  superior.  His  brilliant  action  with  Graves  off  the  capes 
of  the  Chesapeake  in  the  early  days  of  September,  1781,  greatly  restored  the  prestige  of 
the  navy  of  France  and  rated  Pe  Grasse  as  a  naval  commander  of  meritorious  skill. 
Upon  his  return  to  the  West  Indies  after  Yorktown,  in  a  sea  fight  of  seven  hours,  during 
which  he  bravely  sustained  himself  with  6  ships  against  a  British  fleet  of  14,  he  was 
overwhelmed,  losing  all  his  vessels,  including  his  flagship,  the  Ville  de  Paris,  famous  at 
Yorktown,  and  himself  becoming  a  prisoner.  He  was  held  in  England  until  after  the 
peace  of  1783.  But  added  to  his  misfortunes  afloat  he  lost  the  favor  of  the  King,  and  as 
a  result  lived  in  retirement  until  his  death  in  January,  1788.  ROCHAMBEAU  announced 
his  death  to  Washington,  who  replied,  "His  name  will' be  long  deservedly  dear  to  this 
country  for  his  valuable  services  in  the  series  of  warlike  events  which  terminated 
in  the  capture  of  the  British  army  at  Yorktown,  Va."  In  particular  his  engagement 
with  Graves  before  the  arrival  of  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU  and  their  junction 
with  I^afayette  and  Saint-Simon;  but  for  his  nautical  skill  and  fighting  qualities  on 
that  occasion  Cornwallis  and  his  entire  force  would  have  been  borne  away  in  triumph 
to  New  York,  and  no  force  in  sufficient  numbers  to  force  its  abandonment  for  fear  of 
capture  in  the  movements  of  embarkation.  The  life  of  this  hero,  so  dear  to  Washing 
ton  and  his  countrymen,  after  returning  to  France  was  embittered  by  a  second  mar 
riage  to  a  woman  wholly  unworthy  of  him.  To  these  domestic  infelicities  was  added 
the  harrowing  thought  of  his  King's  displeasure.  General  Washington,  in  a  still  later 
letter  (April,  1788)  to  ROCHAMBEAU,  said,  "  His  frailties  should  now  be  buried  in  the 
grave  with  him,  while  his  name  will  be  long  deservedly  dear  to  this  country  on 
account  of  his  successful  cooperation  in  the  famous  campaign  of  1781.  The  Cincinnati 
in  some  of  the  States  have  gone  into  mourning  for  "him." 


424  ;  York  town,  1781 

The  In  jiiis  de  Saint  Simon,  number 

ing  3,600  me  up  the  James  River  to  Jamestown, 

less  than  12  miles  from  Cornwallis's  position  it  disem 

barked  and  effected  a  junction  with  General  Lafayette. 

The  next  day  the  united  forces  eir  illiamsburg  and 

made  sir  -itions  ai  •  {  Cornwallis. 

A  detacl1  !  Gloucester. 

The  A  :iver 

,:t.° 

. 

command  of  a  74- 

.-«  prominent  part  in  the  action  of  Ouessant  in 

promoted  v  vral  or  admiral  in 

luring  his  operations  on  the  American 

coast  in  the  autur  nd  under  De  Guicheu  in  1780  in  his  engagement  with  Rod- 

d  De         COMTE  DE  GRASSE          >'It»t*ing  ia  command  of  the 
French  fleet  in  the  West  Inch  'h  the  conduct  of  naval  opt  • 

in  North  American  waters  in  conji.  When 

appointed  to  this  important  place  of  ai  of  DC 

Barras,  but  by  viu 
armies  of  r 


dear  to  this 

lie*  of  warlike  events  which  terminated 

r  tne  i."     I"  particular  his  engagement 

ore   thearrh  .\uand  their  ji.- 

ind  Saint-Simon;  but  for  his  nautical  skill  and  fighting  quali; 
-nwallis  and  his  entire  force  would  have  been  borne  away  in  triumph 
d  no  force  in  sufficient  numbers  to  force  its  abandonment  for  : 

:  kation.     The  life  of  t  • 
r  returning  to  France  was  embit; 
of  him.    To  these  domest'- 
>f  his  Kind's  displeasure.     General  Washing; 
'CHAMBEAU,  said,  "His  frailties  should  now  be  buried  in  the 
his  name  will  be  long  deservedly  dear  to    this   count: 

l»eratioti  in  the  1.  The  Cincinnati 

ue  into  mourning  for  h 


*•• 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  425 

ON    CHESAPEAKE    WATERS 

On  the  evening  of  September  8,  the  column  reached  Head 
of  Elk,  the  beginning  of  navigation  on  the  Chesapeake  Bay. 

Before  leaving  Philadelphia  the  generals  in  chief  learned  of 
the  arrival  of  Admiral-  Hood  at  New  York,  where  uniting  with 
Admiral  Graves  he  had  sailed  without  a  moment's  delay  for  the 
Chesapeake. 

The  anxiety  naturally  aroused  by  intelligence  of  such  an 
alarming  character  was  soon  set  at  rest  by  the  report  of  the 
arrival  of  De  Grasse  at  the  entrance  to  Chesapeake  Bay  with  a 
force  equal  to  anything  which  the  British  could  bring  against  it. 

On  September  8,  from  Klk,  Washington,  who  had  arrived  in 
advance  of  the  troops,  conveyed  to  De  Grasse  his  felicitations 
upon  the  arrival  of  so  formidable  a  fleet  in  the  Chesapeake,  and 
advised  him  of  the  situation,  mentioning  the  van  of  the  two 
armies,  French  and  American,  about  2,000  in  number,  would 
embark  in  two  days,  drop  down  the  Chesapeake,  and  form  a  junc 
tion  with  the  troops  of  Saint-Simon  and  Marquis  de  Lafayette  in 
blocking  Cornwallis  in  Yorktown. 

This  junction  was  to  be  effected  in  James  River,  unless  the 
commander  judged  another  point  more  favorable.  The  re 
mainder  of  the  troops  were  to  be  forwarded  with  all  expedition. 

From  Head  of  Klk,  September  7,  Washington  sent  an  express 
to  Lafayette,  mentioning  his  satisfaction  over  the  arrival  of  De 
Grasse,  and  of  his  ideas  on  every  occasion  being  so  conform 
able  to  his  own,  continuing,  "by  your  military  disposition 
and  provident  measures  you  have  anticipated  all  my  wishes. ' ' 
Again  he  writes  from  Baltimore,  on  September  8,  in  the  same 
vein.  At  this  city  Washington  was  received  by  a  deputation  of 
Congress  with  an  address,  to  which  he  replied. 

ROCHAMBEAU  AT  MOUNT  VERNON 

From  Klk  (Klkton)  Generals  Washington,  ROCHAMBEAU, 
and  Chastellux,  escorted  by  Washington's  Life  Guard,  leaving 
the  main  column  'to  -come  up  as  quickly  as  possible,  pushed 
ahead  by  forced  marches,  reaching  Baltimore  September  8  and 


426  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

Mount  Vernon  on  the  loth.  This  was  his  first  visit  in  six  years 
and'  five  months,  when  he  left  to  attend  the  assembling  of  the 
Continental  Congress  in  May,  1775,  and  later  the  same  year 
assumed  command  of  the  army  at  Cambridge,  outside  of  Boston. 
He  now  remained  but  long  enough  for  Count  DK  ROCH  AMBEAU, 
who  had  tarried  at  Baltimore,  to  come  up,  that  he  might  greet 
him  under  the  shelter  of  his  own  roof  and  give  a  moment's  hos 
pitality  to  his  companionable  French  comrade  in  chief  command. 
From  Mount  Vernon,  on  September  10,  the  chief  again  ad 
vises  his  brilliant  young  French  general: 

We  are  thus  far  on  our  way  to  you,  my  dear  marquis;  Count  DE  Ro- 
CHAMBEAU  has  just  arrived;  General  Chastellux  will  also  be  here.  I  pro 
pose,  after  resting  to-morrow,  to  be  at  Fredericksburg  on  the  night  of  the 
1 2th.  On  the  I3th  I  reach  New  Castle  and  the  next  day  I  shall  have  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  you  at  your  encampment. 

WILUAMSBURG 

On  the  evening  of  the  i4th  the  general  and  his  company 
reached  Williamsburg,  a  distance  of  184  miles  from  Annapolis. 
Here  they  found  Lafayette  with  his  American  light  infantry 
division  and  Saint-Simon  with  his  French  grenadier  and  chas 
seurs  from  the  fleet  of  De  Grasse  occupying  strong  positions. 

The  arrival  of  this  body  of  men  infused  a  splendid  spirit  of 
admiration  and  emulation  among  the  troops  of  Lafayette's 
corps,  itself  the  elite  of  the  Continental  army.  An  officer, 
in  a  letter,  thus  characterized  these  men: 

You  have  seen  the  troops  of  other  nations,  but  you  have  not  seen  troops 
so  well  made,  robust,  or  of  such  an  appearance  as  those  of  General  Saint- 
Simon  just  brought  to  our  assistance. 

After  congratulating  the  young  French  marquis  and  American 
major-general  upon  the  masterly  strategy  which  drove  the 
British  army  into  its  present  predicament,  Washington  hastened 
the  concentration  of  his  strength  and  began  the  organization  of 
his  allied  forces  in  order  of  march  and  battle,  preparatory  to  the 
advance  from  Williamsburg  to  Yorktown.  Cornwallis  now  saw 
the  danger  of  his  situation.  Being  without  transports  his  only 
chance  of  escape  was  by  a  hurried  and  secret  march  into  North 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  ijS.r  427 

Carolina.  Lafayette,  however,  had  anticipated  such  a  movement, 
by  drawing  his  lines  tighter  across  the  peninsula. 

With  the  added  support  of  the  Saint-Simon  contingent  he 
felt  confident  of  his  ability  to  hold  the  entrapped  British  until 
the  arrival  of  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU. 

Admiral  Rodney,  in  command  of  the  British  naval  forces  in 
the  West  Indies,  learning  of  De  Grasse's  departure  up  the  coast, 
at  once  detailed  a  squadron  of  14  ships,  under  Sir  Samuel  Wood, 
in  pursuit. 

On  August  28;  Hood  put  into  New  York  Bay  for  a  conference 
with  Graves,  who  had  succeeded  Arbuthnot. 

NAVAL   BATTLE   OFF   THE    CHESAPEAKE 

De  Barras,  not  to  be  idle  with  so  much  going  on  elsewhere, 
had  sailed  for  the  Chesapeake.  Information  being  brought  in 
that  De  Barras  had  left  Newport,  Graves  and  Rodney  set  forth 
after  him  with  the  entire  fleet  of  21  sail,  carrying  i  ,694  guns,  and 
made  their  appearance  off  Cape  Charles  as  the  troops  of  Saint- 
Simon  were  disembarking  from  De  Grasse's  ships  in  James 
River.  Fully  1,500  of  his  sailors  and  900  officers  were  assisting 
in  getting  the  men  ashore.  Yet  with  so  much  celerity  were  his 
orders  obeyed,  that  the  fleet  was  under  sail  in  less  than  three 
quarters  of  an  hour  when  the  character  of  the  approaching  fleet 
became  known. 

De  Grasse,  upon  discovering  the  character  of  the  approaching 
sail,  cut  cables  and  with  24  of  his  best  vessels,  carrying  1,826 
guns,  bore  down  on  the  enemy.  The  British,  having  the  wind 
in  their  favor,  headed  for  the  French  within  the  bay,  prepared  for 
attack.  De  Grasse  meanwhile,  desirous  of  more  room,  put  to 
sea,  taking  formation  across  the  van  of  the  approaching  enemy. 
The  Englishman  at  once  headed  for  his  adversary,  but  De  Grasse 
maneuvering  for  the  weather  gauge,  the  two  fleets  by  afternoon 
found  themselves  clear  of  the  capes  and  out  upon  the  broad 
Atlantic. 

It  was  4  p.  m.  before  the  van  of  the  division  of  Bougainville 
went  into  action.  The  two  fleets  were  engaged  until  sunset. 


428  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

DE    GRASSE   WINS 

The  British,  badly  worsted,  took  the  wind,  pursued  by 
De  Grasse.  The  night  was  passed  by  both  fleets  seeking  advan 
tage  of  positions.  Graves  evidently  intended  to  renew  the 
attack  in  the  morning,  desperate  as  his  situation  was,  until 
Admiral  Drake,  in  command  of  his  van  division,  informed  him 
of  the  necessity  of  repairs  to  some  of  his  ships. 

The  two  fleets  remained  in  sight  of  each  other  for  five  days 
without  coming  to  blows,  whereupon  De  Grasse  sailed  back  to 
his  anchorage  in  Lynnhaven  Bay. 

DK    BARRAS    ON   THE    GROUND 

While  De  Grasse  was  outfighting  and  outmaneuvering  the 
British  under  Graves,  De  Barras,  with  the  Newport  fleet,  had 
arrived  and  was  anchored  in  the  bay,  with  the  French  troops  and 
heavy  artillery  from  Newport  and  Providence  on  board,  having 
been  fortunate  enough  to  pass  Graves  without  being  sighted. 

CORNWALLIS   ABANDONED   TO    HIS   FATE 

Finding  De  Grasse  strengthened  by  the  arrival  of  De  Barras, 
Graves  turned  away,  heading  for  New  York  with  all  dispatch. 
One  of  his  best  ships,  the  Terrible,  being  so  badly  damaged 
after  taking  out  her  crew  and  stores  was  sent  to  the  bottom. 
This  ended  the  English  attempt  to  raise  the  investment  of 
Yorktown  from  the  ocean,  and  settled  the  fate  of  Cornwallis. 

ALL    ROADS   LEAD   TO   YORK 

The  troops  of  both  armies  hastened  forward  by  forced  marches. 
Upon  arriving  at  Head  of  Klk  on  September  8,  as  planned,  52 
miles  from  Philadelphia,  covered  in  three  days,  an  officer  who 
had  arrived  there  but  an  hour  before  with  dispatches  from 
Lafayette  confirmed  the  presence  of  De  Grasse  in  the  Chesa 
peake.  On  his  way  up  the  coast  De  Grasse  captured  a  British 
armed  vessel,  having  on  board  Lord  Rawdon,  bound  from 
Charleston  to  New  York.  This  was  the  commander  of  the 
British  troops  in  the  Carolinas. 


Newport  to  York  town,  ij8i  429 

INADEQUATE   TRANSPORTATION 

A  difficulty  of  transportation  now  presented  itself.  The 
British  in  their  expeditions  having  destroyed  all  boats,  not  more 
than  sufficient  to  accommodate  the  two  vanguards  of  about 
1,000  grenadiers  and  chasseurs  and  1,000  Americans  could  be 
found.  These  were  rushed  down  the  bay  as  fast  as  the  fickle 
wind  would  take  them  to  unite  with  Lafayette's  forces. 

In  this  extremity  the  two  Viomenils  pushed  ahead  with  their 
forces  by  land,  taking  the  bay  shore  as  far  as  Baltimore,  57 
miles,  and  Annapolis  42  miles  farther  on,  making  99  miles  in  all. 

The  rest  of  the  troops  on  September  9  resumed  the  march, 
entering  Maryland  and  camping  at  Susquehanna  Ferry,  16 
miles,  the  same  night.  Then  making  Burk's  Tavern  (loth), 
14  miles,  marching  east  of  Baltimore;  nth, '15  miles;  and  on 
the  1 2th  covering  12  miles,  the  main  column  going  into  camp 
north  of  Baltimore,  where,  it  remained  until  the  i6th,  when 
the  march  was  resumed  to  Spurien's  Tavern,  16  miles;  iyth, 
Coathes,  18  miles;  i8th,  Annapolis,  8  miles. 

The  transportation  urged  by  Washington  from  the  fleet  was 
in  time  for  prompt  use. 

ON    TRANSPORTS    FOR    THE    FRONT 

On  the  2ist  the  entire  army,  French  and  Americans,  were 
taken  aboard  De  Barras's  10  transports,  the  2  captured  frigates, 
and  several  captured  vessels  sent  up  by  De  Grasse  for  the  pur 
pose,  and  were  safely  debarked  under  orders  at  College  Land 
ing,  James  River,  Virginia,  178  miles,  whence  they  effected  a 
junction  with  the  troops  of  Lafayette  and  Saint-Simon  at 
Williamsburg,  6  miles,  on  September  26. 

THE   MARCH   OF   HISTORY 

The  entire  distance  marched  from  Providence  to  Yorktown 
by  the  army  of  ROCHAMBEAU  was  536  miles,  with  water  trans 
portation,  Newport  to  Providence,  30  miles,  and  Annapolis  to 
Jamestown,  178  miles — 208  miles;  and  march,  Williamsburg  to 
Yorktown,  12  miles,  or  a  total  of  756  miles,  Newport  to  York- 


430  Newport  to  York  town,  1781 

town.  After  leaving  the  army  at  Susquehanna  Ferry,  with 
Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  Marquis  de  Chastellux,  and  Life 
Guard  escort,  Washington  took  the  Baltimore  Bay  road  to  that 
city;  thence  to  Annapolis;  thence  via  Bladensburg  and  George 
town,  Md.,  crossing  the  Potomac  at  the  latter  point,  making 
their  fourth  camp  out  south  of  Alexandria,  Va.  (Mount  Ver- 
non);  camp  No.  8  at  Fredericksburg,  crossing  the  Rapidan  and 
North  and  South  Anna,  and  thence  moved  down  the  west  side 
of  Pamunkey  and  York  rivers,  ending  their  fourteenth  day's 
march  between  Burd's  Tavern  and  Williamsburg,  Va. 

A  DAY  ON  BOARD  WITH  DE  GRASSE 

On  September  17,  Washington,  accompanied  by  ROCHAM 
BEAU,  Chastellux,  Knox,  and  Duportail,  embarking  on  the 
Queen  Charlotte,  set  out  for  the  La  Ville  de  Paris,  in  Lynn- 
haven  Bay,  off  Cape  Henry.  They  did  not  arrive,  however, 
until  the  next  day,  owing  to  contrary  winds.  Having  settled 
all  points  of  consultation,  excepting  the  blockade  of  York  River, 
the  party  set  out  on  return,  but  owing  to  contrary  winds  did 
not  reach  headquarters  until  the  226.. 

It  should  be  said  that  De  Grasse,  impatient  of  delay,  in  view 
of  his  engagements  in  the  West  Indies  for  the  middle  of 
October,  was  urgent  to  have  Lafayette  unite  in  an  attack 
on  the  British  position  without  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  the 
forces  of  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU.  The  young  French 
man,  unwilling  to  hazard  such  an  attempt,  opposed  the  wish  of 
De  Grasse  with  so  much  tact  that  he  warded  off  action  until 
the  allied  forces  were  so  near  that  the  undertaking  might  be 
considered  unwise  in  more  senses  than  one. 

IMMEDIATE    ADVANCE    ON   THE    BRITISH    WORKS 

In  their  conference  on  the  flagship  it  was  understood  that  an 
attack  would  be  made  on  Cornwallis  as  soon  as  the  last  of  the 
American  troops  were  on  the  ground. 

While  awaiting  the  coming  up  of  the  rear  of  the  marching 
column,  information  was  received  of  the  arrival  of  Admiral 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  ijSi  431 

Digby  at  New  York,  with  six  ships  of  the  line,  as  an  addition  to 
the  naval  strength  of  Graves,  making  the  latter 's  force  nearly 
equal  to  the  French. 

A   DANGEROUS   DIVERSION 

As  this  might  encourage  a  fresh  attempt  on  the  part  of 
Graves  to  relieve  Cornwallis  of  his  desperate  strait,  De  Grasse 
proposed  to  put  to  sea  in  search  of  Graves  should  he  make 
the  attempt,  leaving  a  few  frigates  in  the  bay  to  hold  the 
York  and  James  rivers. 

Washington,  fearful  of  a  superior  force  slipping  in  and 
relieving  Cornwallis  while  the  French  squadron  was  absent, 
used  all  his  power  of  argument  to  persuade  De  Grasse  to  desist. 

On  September  25  he  dispatched,  from  Williamsburg,  Marquis 
de  Lafayette  with  a  letter  to  Comte  de  Grasse,  in  reply  to  his 
of  the  23d  from  Cape  Henry  proposing  this  change  of  plan  of 
operations  as  a  result  of  the  arrival  of  Admiral  Digby. 

The  British  strength  was  now  equal  to  his  own,  therefore  he 
did  not  wish  to  place  himself  in  a  position  which  would  pre 
vent  him  from  attacking  should  an  attempt  be  made  to  relieve 
Cornwallis. 

De  Grasse,  therefore,  proposed  placing  two  vessels  off  the 
mouth  of  York  River  and  gathering  around  him  the  rest  of  his 
entire  force,  excepting  the  frigates  Cormorant,  Charlotte,  Sand 
wich,  and  one  other  then  blockading  James  River.  With  the 
rest  he  proposed  to  keep  the  offing,  in  order  to  have  fighting 
room  should  Digby  appear.  There  was  also  a  possibility  of  an 
action  forcing  him  to  the  leeward  and  preventing  his  return. 
Yet  in  his  present  position  he  was  at  a  disadvantage  for  attack 
and  not  secure  in  a  gale. 

The  anchorage  at  York  had  no  advantages  to  prevent  the 
enemy  from  entering  the  capes. 

WASHINGTON    AND    ROCHAMBEAU    OPPOSED 

The  Admiral  agreed  to  wait  for  a  reply  from  Washington  and 
ROCHAMBEAU,  whom  he  addressed  in  common.  With  his  troops 
and  those  of  Saint-Simon,  and  the  two  vessels  and  corvettes  left 


432  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

behind  at  James  River  he  proposed  to  sail  toward  New  York, 
hoping  to  do  more  for  the  common  cause  than  by  remaining  an 
idle  spectator. 

He  inferred  that  if  the  enemy  did  not  come  out  they  dared 
not.  In  the  meantime  he  suggested  pushing  Cornwallis,  and  to 
act  in  concord,  each  on  his  own  side. 

This  programme  gave  Washington  great  anxiety  and  made 
it  necessary  to  insist  upon  the  plan  already  agreed  upon.  He 
declared  the  enterprise  against  York  under  the  protection  of 
his  ships  as  certain  as  any  military  operation  can  be  rendered 
by  a  decisive  superiority  of  strength  and  means.  He  declared 
the  fact  reducible  to  a  calculation,  and  that  the  surrender  of 
the  British  garrison  must  go  a  great  way  toward  terminating  the 
war. 

The  departure  of  the  fleet  from  the  Chesapeake  would  be 
availed  of  for  relief  and  frustrate  the  brilliant  prospects  ahead, 
ending  in  disgrace  after  the  fairest  expectations  of  the  allied 
armies,  and  possibly  the  disbanding  of  the  whole  army  for  want 
of  provisions. 

Admitting  a  stationary  position  impracticable  ^as  an  alterna 
tive,  however  inferior,  considered  relatively  to  the  support 
and  facility  of  land  operations,  Washington  proposed  De  Grasse 
to  cruise  within  view  of  the  Capes,  so  as  to  render  the  entrance 
inaccessible  to  any  of  the  enemy's  vessels. 

DE  GRASSE   WON   OVER 

Added  to  these  frank  declarations,  the  persuasive  logic  of 
L,afayette  won  De  Grasse  over  to  remaining  within  the  capes 
and  blockading  the  bay  during  the  siege. 

Before  doing  so,  however,  he  laid  the  question  before  a  coun 
cil  of  war,  the  decision  of  which,  communicated  to  Washington 
and  ROCHAMBEAU,  was  in  De  Grasse' s  own  words — 

that  a  large  part  of  the  fleet  shall  anchor  in  York  River;  that  four  or  five 
vessels  shall  be  stationed  so  as  to  pass  up  and  down  James  River,  and  that 
you  shall  aid  us  with  the  means  to  erect  a  battery  on  Point  Comfort, 
where  we  can  place  cannon  and  mortars. 


Newport  tc  Yorktown,  ij8i  433 

The  Admiral  also  agreed  to  proceed  to  the  execution  of  the 
arrangement  forthwith,  of  which  he  gave  notice,  "that  we  may 
act  in  concert  for  the  advancement  of  our  operations. ' ' 

On  the  2yth,  Washington,  acknowledging  his  indebtedness 
for  his  determination,  promised  every  assistance  of  the  allied 
armies  relative  to  the  battery  at  Point  Comfort. 

ORDER   OF   BATTLE 

The  entire  force  being  on  the  ground,  Washington  issued 
his  order  of  battle  from  headquarters  at  Williamsburg,  Va. , 
the  parole  being  ' '  Virginia, ' '  and  the  countersign  ' '  York  and 
Gloucester. ' ' 

The  rolls  were  required  to  be  called  with  the  greatest 
strictness  at  retreat  beating  and  at  tattoo,  in  the  presence  of 
the  field  officers,  at  which  time  no  officer  nor  soldier  in  condi 
tion  to  march  was  to  be  absent  from  his  post  in  camp. 

The  American  troops  composing  the  right  wing  were  to  be 
formed  in  two  lines,  the  Continental  forces  in  the  front  line. 
The  senior  Continental  officer  was  to  command  the  right  wing 
and  his  excellency,  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  the  left  wing,  of 
which  he  was  to  make  his  own  disposition. 

The  whole  army  was  ordered  to  inarch  by  the  right  in  one 
column,  at  5  a.  m.  sharp,  September  28,  as  light  and  unen 
cumbered  as  possible. 

V 

GIVE   THEM   THE    BAYONET 

' '  If  the  enemy  should  be  tempted  to  meet  the  army  on  its 
march,"  the  general  particularly  enjoined,  "the  troops  will 
place  their  principal  reliance  on  the  bayonet,  that  they  may 
prove  the  vanity  of  the  boasts  which  the  British  make  of  their 
particular  success  in  deciding  battles  with  that  weapon.  I  trust 
that  generous  emulation  will  actuate  the  allied  armies;  that  the 
French,  whose  national  weapon  is  that  of  close  fight,  and  the 
troops  in  general  that  have  so  often  used  it  with  success,  will 
distinguish  themselves  on  every  occasion  that  offers.  The  jus 
tice  of  the  cause  in  which  we  are  engaged  and  the  honor  of  the 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 28 


434  Newport  to  York  town,  1781 

two  nations  must  inspire  every  breast  with  sentiments  that  are 
the  presage  of  victory." 

The  advance  guard  was  formed  of  a  brigade  of  infantry  with 
its  artillery,  preceded  by  a  corps  of  riflemen  and  light  dragoons. 
The  camp  guards  and  rear  guard  were  ordered  to  form  on  the 
great  road  on  the  left,  in  the  rear  of  the  encampment,  at  5 
o'clock. 

FORMATIONS 

The  complete  formation  of  the  allied  armies  under  these 
orders  was  as  follows: 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  AI^IED  ARMY  OF  YORKTOWN,  VA. 

ADVANCE  FROM  RENDEZVOUS  AT  WIIJJAMSBURG,  VA.,  TO  THE  SIEGE  OF 
YORKTOWN,  SEPTEMBER  27,  1781. 

General  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  commander  in  chief. 

Right  wing  (first  line):  American  forces;  left  wing  (first  line):  French 
auxiliary  forces. 

Right  wing  (American). 
Maj.  Gen.  Benjamin  Lincoln,  U.  S.  Army,  of  Massachusetts,  commanding. 

First  or  right  division  (right  wing). 
Maj.  Gen.  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  U.  S.  Army,  commanding. 

Advance  Guard. 

1.  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Battalion  Riflemen,  Maj.  William  Parr,  of 
Pennsylvania,  commanding. 

2.  Fourth  Regiment  Continental  Light  Dragoons,  Col.  Stephen  Moylan, 
of  Pennsylvania,  commanding. 

Second  or  left  brigade  (first  division). 

Col.  Moses  Hazen,  Canadian  regiment,  Continental  Infantry,  command 
ing  brigade. 

Regiment  of  light  infantry  composed  of  the  light  infantry  companies  of 
the  First  and  Second  New  Hampshire  Continental  Infantry,  of  the  Cana 
dian  regiment,  and  First  and  Second  New  Jersey  Continental  Infantry, 
under  Col.  Alexander  Scammell,  First  New  Hampshire  Continental  Infan 
try,  and  Maj.  Nathan  Rice,  aid-de-camp,  of  Massachusetts. 

Second  Battalion  of  Light  Infantry  (4  companies)  composed  of  the  light 
companies  First  and  Second  New  York  Continental  Infantry. 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  435 

First  or  right  brigade  (first  division). 

Brig.  Gen.  John  Peter  Gabriel  Muhlenberg,  U.  S.  Army,  of  Pennsylvania, 
commanding  brigade. 

Regiment  of  light  infantry  (8  companies)  composed  of  the  light  infantry 
companies  of  the  First,  Second,  Third,  Fourth,  Fifth,  Sixth,  Seventh,  and 
Eighth  regiments  Massachusetts  Continental  Infantry,  under  Col.  Joseph 
Vose,  First  Massachusetts,  and  Major  Gal  van,  unattached. 

Regiment  of  light  infantry  (8  companies)  composed  of  the  light  infantry 
companies  of  the  Ninth  and  Tenth  Massachusetts  Continental  Infantry, 
First,  Second,  Third,  Fourth,  and  Fifth  regiments  Connecticut  Conti 
nental  Infantry,  and  Rhode  Island  Regiment  Continental  Infantry,  under 
Lieut.  Col.  J.  Gimat,  aid-de-camp,  and  Maj.  John  Palsgrave  Wyllis,  Third 
Connecticut. 

Second  or  center  division  (right  wing). 
Maj.  Gen.  Baron  de  Steuben,  inspector-general  U.  S.  Army,  commanding. 

Second  or  left  brigade  (second  division). 
Brig.  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne,  U.  S.  Army,  of  Pennsylvania,  commanding. 

First  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Continental  Infantry,  composed  of  First 
and  Second  regiments  consolidated,  Col.  Daniel  Brodhead,  commanding. 

Second  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Continental  Infantry,  composed  of  Third 
and  Fifth  regiments  consolidated,  Col.  Richard  Butler,  commanding. 

Third  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Continental  Infantry,  composed  of  the 
Fourth  and  Sixth  regiments  consolidated,  Lieut.  Col.  William  Butler, 
commanding. 

First  Virginia  Continental  Infantry,  Lieut.  Thomas  Gaskins,  Third  Vir 
ginia  Continental  Infantry,  commanding. 

First  or  right  brigade  (second  division). 
Brig.  Gen.  Mordecai  Gist,  U.  S.  Army,  of  Maryland,  commanding. 

Third  Maryland  Continental  Infantry,  Lieut.  Col.  Peter  Adams,  com 
manding. 

Fourth  Maryland  Continental  Infantry,  Lieut.  Col.  Thomas  Woolford, 
commanding. 

Fifth  Maryland  Continental  Infantry,  Maj.  Alexander  Roxburgh,  com 
manding. 

Baltimore  Light  Dragoons,  Col.  Nicholas  Ruxton  Moore,  commanding. 

Frederick  Light  Dragoons,  —  — . 

Third  or  left  division  (right  wing). 
Brig.  Gen.  James  Clinton,  U.  S.  Army,  of  New  York,  commanding. 

Second  or  left  brigade  (third  division). 
Col.  Elias  Dayton,  Second  New  Jersey  Continental  Infantry,  commanding. 


436    '  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

First  Regiment  New  Jersey  Continental  Infantry,  Col.  Matthias  Ogden, 
commanding. 

Second  Regiment  New  Jersey  Continental  Infantry,  Lieut.  Col.  Francis 
Barber,  commanding. 

Rhode  Island  Regiment  Continental  Infantry,  Lieut.  Col.  Commandant 
Jeremiah  Olney,  commanding. 

Infantry,  and  two  companies  of  New  York  levies,  under  Lieut.  Col. 
Alexander  Hamilton,  of  New  York,  and  Maj.  Nicholas  Fish,  Second  New 
York  Continental  Infantry. 

Thir^l  Canadian  Continental  Regiment  of  Infantry,  Lieut.  Col.  Edward 
Antill,  commanding. 

First  or  right  brigade  (third  division). 

Col.  Goose  Van  Schaick,  First  Regiment  New  York  Continental  Infantry, 

commanding. 

First  Regiment  New  York  Continental  Infantry,  Lieut.  Col.  Cornelius 
Van  Dyck,  commanding. 

Second  Regiment  New  York  Continental  Infantry,  Col.  Philip  Van 
Cortlandt,  commanding.  • 

ORGANIZATION  AND  ORDER  OF  BATTLE  OF  THE  FRENCH  AUXILIARY 

ARMY. 

ADVANCE     FROM     WII^UAMSBURG     TO     THE    SIEGE     OF     YORK,    SEPTEM 
BER   27,   1781. 

Left  wing  of  the  allied  army,  Lieut.  Gen.  Comte   de  ROCHAMBEAU,  com 
manding  His  Most  Christian  Majesty's  auxiliary  forces. 

Aids-de-camp. — First  aid,  Comte  de  Fersen,  second  lieutentant;  Che 
valier  de  Lameth  (Charles),  colonel;  Comte  de  Damas,  colonel;  Comte  de 
Dumas,  colonel;  Baron  de  Closen,  captain;  M.  de  Lauberdiere,  captain; 
Baron  Cromot  du  Bourg,  Chevalier  de  Seville,  captain. 

Maj.  Gen.  Baron  de  Viomenil,  second  in  command. 

Aids-de-camp . — Chevalier  d'Olonne,  second  lieutenant;  Marquis  de 
Vaubon. 

General  staff. — Aids  to  major-general :  M.  de  Menonville,  lieutenant- 
colonel;  M.  de  Tarle,  lieutenant-colonel;  M.  de  Bouchet,  captain/  Aid 
major  of  infantry:  M.  Lynch,  captain.  Aid  major:  M.  de  Saint  Felix,  cap 
tain.  Aid  major  of  artillery:  Chevalier  de  Plessis-Mauduit,  capitaine  en 
second.  Quartermaster-general's  aids,  (see  Quartermaster-General). 
Topographical  engineers:  Alexander  de  Berthier,  capitaine.  Capitaine  of 
the  guides,  M.  Mullens,  lieutenant.  Quartermaster-general,  M.  de  Beville, 


"MOD 


436  •••', 

Fir  nental  Infantry,  Col.  Matthias  Ogden, 

conn 

St-i  >ntinental  Infantry.  Lieut.  Col.  Francis 

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!er  Lieut.  Col. 
ond  New* 


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lental  Infantry,  Lieut.  Col.  Cornelius 
Van  Dyck,  coin 

Second   Regiment  k    Continental  Infantry,  Col.    Philip   Van 

Cortlandt,  commanding.   • 

OR(.  QENERAL  COMTE  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  AND  STAFF  BEFORE  YORKTOWN.  VA. 

OCTOBER,  1781 

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Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  437 

brigadier.  Aids  (general  staff):  M.  Collot,  M..  de  Be"ville  (fils),  capitaine; 
Comte  deChabanne,  capitaine;  Chevalier  de  Lameth  ( Alexandre ),  capitaine; 
commissary-general,  N.  Blanchard,  brigadier. 

First  or  right  division. 
Maj.  Gen.  Chevalier  de  Chastellux;  aid-de-camp,  M.  de  Montesquieu. 

Regiments. — Bourbonnais:  Marquis  de  Laval-Montmorencie,  colonel ; 
Vicomte  de  Rochambeau,  colonel  en  second;  M.  de  Bressoles,  lieutenant- 
colonel ;  M.  de  Gambs,  major.  Royal  Deux-Ponts:  Marquis  Christian 
des  Deux-Ponts,  Comte  de  Forbach,  colonel;  Comte  Guillaume  des  Deux- 
Ponts,  colonel  en  second;  Comte  de  Fersen,  mestre  de  camp. 

Second  or  center  division. 

Maj.   Gen.    Chevalier   de    Viomenil,    commanding;   aid-de-camp,  M.  de 

Montesquieu. 

Regiments. — Soissonnais:  Comte  de  Saint  Maime,  colonel;  Vicomte  de 
Noailles,  colonel  en  second;  M.  de  Anselme,  lieutenant-colonel;  M.  Des- 
peyron,  major.  Saintonge:  Comte  de  Custine,  colonel;  Comte  de  Charlus, 
colonel  en  second;  Chevalier  de  la  Valette,  lieutenant-colonel;  M.  de 
Fleury,  major.  Dillon:  Comte  Arthur  de  Dillon,  colonel;  Barthele'my 
Dillon,  lieutenant-colonel;  Jacques  O'Moran,  major.  Detached  com 
mand:  Brigadier  M.  de  Choisy,  commanding.  Lauzun's  legion:  Due  de 
Lauzun,  brigadier,  commanding;  M.  Scheldon,  mestre  de  camp  of  hussars. 

Third  or  left  division. 
Lieut.  Gen.  Marquis  de  Saint-Simon,  West  Indies  Contingent,  commanding. 

Regiments. — Agenois:  Comte  d'Audichamp,  colonel;  Chevalier  de 
Cadinau,  lieutenant-colonel;  M.  de  Beauregard,  major.  Touraine:  Vicomte 
de  Pondeux,  colonel;  M.  de  Monti ezun,  lieutenant-colonel;  M.  de  Menon- 
ville,  major;  Comte  de  Flechin,  Chevalier  de  Mirabeau,  mestre  de  camp. 
Gateinote  (Royal  Auvergne):  Marquis  de  Rostaing,  colonel;  Vicomte  de 
Bethisy,  colonel  en  second;  M.  de  1'Estrade,  lieutenant-colonel;  M.  Cha- 
puy  de  Tourville,  major.  Royal  Engineers:  M.  de  Guerenet,  colonel; 
M.  Cantel  Daneteville,  major.  Artillery  (Regiment  Auxonne) :  M.  de 
Buzalet. 

Intermediate  line. 

Left. — First  Virginia  State  Regiment  of  Infantry  in  Continental  service, 
Col.  George  Gibson,  commanding. 

Center. — Brig.  Gen.  Chevalier  le  Begue  Duportail,  chief  of  engineers, 
U.  S.  Army,  commanding;  battalion  of  sappers  and  miners. 

Right. — Brig.  Gen.  Henry  Knox,  U.  S.  Army,  of  the  artillery,  com 
manding  park  of  artillery,  viz:  Second  Regiment  Continental  Corps  of 
Artillery,  Col.  John  Lamb,  of  New  York,  commanding;  Lieut.  Col.  Ebe- 
nezer  Stevens,  Maj.  Sebastian  Bauman;  detachment  of  regiment  of  artil 
lery,  Lieut.  Col.  Edward  Carr.ington,  of  Virginia,  commanding. 


438  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

Reserve  or  second  line. 

His  excellency,  Thomas  Nelson,  governor  of  Virginia  (ranking  as  major- 
general,  U.  S.  Army),  commanding  division  Virginia  militia. 

Left  brigade. — Brig.  Gen.  Edward  Stevens,  Virginia  militia  (formerly 
colonel  Tenth  Virginia  Continentals),  commanding  brigade  Virginia 
militia. 

Right  brigade. — Brig.  Gen.  Robert  L/awson,  Virginia  militia  (formerly 
colonel  Fourth  Virginia  Continentals),  commanding  brigade  Virginia 
militia. 

Rear  guard. 

Maj.  James  R.  Reid,  Canadian  Continental  Regiment  of  Infantry,  com 
manding  rear  guard  and  camp  guard. 

ONWARD   TO   YORK 

At  daybreak  on  the  morning  of  the  28th  of  September  the 
armies  broke  camp  at  Williamsburg  and  began  the  advance  upon 
York.  The  American  Continentals  and  French  troops  formed 
a  single  column  on  the  left  of  the  line,  the  Americans  in  advance. 

The  militia,  constituting  the  right  column,  took  the  Har- 
woods  Mill  road.  At  the  " Half- Way  House,"  the  road  divid 
ing,  the  two  armies  separated,  the  French  pursuing  the  direct 
York  road  by  the  ' '  Brick  House, ' '  the  Americans  the  road  to 
the  right  to  Mumford  Bridge,  where  they  found  the  militia. 

By  noon  the  head  of  each  column  had  reached  its  assigned 
position.  A  detachment  of  French  troops,  engaging  the  British 
pickets,  sent  them  flying  back  to  their  supports.  The  French 
corps  followed  by  a  reconnoissance  of  the  British  right.  A  body 
of  British  horse,  appearing  on  the  allied  right,  were  also  crowded 
back  to  their  main  body. 

The  night  of  the  28th  the  American  and  French  armies 
bivouacked  in  line  of  battle. 

On  the  29th  the  American  troops,  obliquing  farther  to  the 
right,  took  position  on  the  east  side  of  Beaver  Dam  Creek. 
The  enemy's  position  was  carefully  reconnoitered,  and  upon 
this  information  the  order  of  approach  and  plan  of  attack  were 
determined. 


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Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  439 

INVESTMENT   OF   THE    BRITISH    WORKS 

The  same  night  ROCHAMBEAU  occupied  the  ground  from 
the  upper  part  of  the  river  down  as  far  as  the  marshes  near 
the  residence  of  Colonel  Nelson,  taking  advantage  of  the  woods 
as  curtains,  and  the  marshy  creeks  to  confine  the  enemy  within 
pistol  shot  of  their  outworks.  The  three  French  divisions  took 
position  close  up  to  the  enemy's  works,  but  under  cover,  by  the 
nature  of  the  ground,  Viomenil  commanding  the  grenadiers  and 
chasseurs  of  the  vanguard.  The  French  investment  was  accom 
plished  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  although  met  with  a  show 
of  opposition.  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  on  that  part  of  the 
field,  bringing  up  his  field  artillery,  with  a  few  shots  dispersed 
the  enemy. 

Washington  in  taking  position  with  the  American  troops 
found  himself  obliged  to  double  on  the  French  rear  and  halt  on 
the  edge  of  the  marshes.  The  bridges  having  been  destroyed, 
the  rest  of  the  day  and  night  were  consumed  in  repairing  them. 
In  the  meantime  his  sharpshooters  had  a  lively  fight  with  the 
German  Jagers. 

The  next  day  the  American  army  crossed  the  marshes,  rest 
ing  its  left  on  their  border  and  its  right  on  York  River. 

This  completed  the  encircling  of  the  enemy's  works  south 
and  west  of  York  River.  Gloucester,  on  the  opposite  side  of 
that  stream,  was  held  by  a  British  detachment  under  Lieuten 
ant-Colonels  Dundas  and  Tarleton,  strongly  intrenched. 

LAUZUN'S  HUSSARS  AT  GLOUCESTER 

The  hussars  of  Due  de  Lauzun  and  the  Virginia  militia 
under  General  Weedon  were  posted  near  the  British  defenses  at 
Gloucester.  The  topography  of  the  surrounding  country  afforded 
excellent  -facilities  for  the  bringing  up  of  reenforcements  for  the 
enemy  and  advantages  for  sorties.  In  order  to  strengthen  the 
besieging  lines,  General  Choisy,  as  bearer  of  a  letter  from  Gen 
eral  Washington  making  a  request  of  Comte  de  Grasse  for  800 
marines,  secured  the  reenforcement,  but  with  the  information 
that  no  future  requisitions  of  the  kind  could  be  complied  with, 


440 


Newport  to  York  town,  1781 


as  he  needed  his  entire  force  subject  to  immediate  service  in  case 
of  emergency,  possible  at  any  moment,  now  that  the  investment 
had  commenced. 

During  these  offensive  movements  on  land  Comte  de  Grasse 
and  Comte  de  Barras  held  complete  control  of  the  entrance  and 
waters  of  Chesapeake  Bay  with  their  combined  fleets. 

OCEAN   INVESTMENT 

West  Indies  fleet  of  France,  Comte  de  Grasse,  lieutenant-general,  admiral 
commanding  entrance  to  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  August  26  to  November 
'  5>  1781 


Vessel. 


Guns. 


Officers 
and  men. 


Commander. 


Ville  de  Paris 


Auguste 

L,anguedoc 

Sceptre 

Saint  Esprit 

Cesar 

Destin 

Victoire  

Northumberland 

Palmier 

Pluton 

Marseillais 

Bourgogne 

Reflechi 

Diad£me 

Caton 

Citoyen  

Scipion 

Magnanime 

Hercule 

Zele 

Hector 

Souverain  

Glorieux 

Vaillant 

Solitaire 

Triton 

Experiment 


Total . . . 


104 

So 

80 

So 
So 
74 
74 
74 
74 
74 
74 
74 
74 
74 
74 
74 
74 
74 
74 
74 
74 
74 
74 
74 


64 
50 

2,078 


1, 165 


815 
837 
710 
536 
530 
540 
800 
55° 


560 


592 
570 
596 
571 
570 
507 
643 
600 
610 
530 
450 


18,  138 


De  Grasse,  lieutenant-general;  De  Vaugirault, 

major  de  1'Armee. 

De  Bougainvillers,  chef  d'escadre;    Castellan. 
De  Monteil,  chef  d'escadre;  DuplessisParscau. 
De  Vaudreuil. 
De  Chabert. 
Coriolis  d'Espinouse. 
Dumaitz  de  Goimpy. 
D' Albert  Saiiit-Hyppolite. 
De  Briqueville. 
D'Arros  d'Argelos. 
D'Albert  de  Rions. 
De  Castellane  de  Majastre. 
De  Charritte. 
Cillart  de  Suville. 
De  Monteclerc. 
De  Framond. 
D'Ethy. 
De  Clavel. 
I^e  B£gue. 

De  Turpin  de  Breuil. 
De  Gras  Preville. 
Renaud  d'Aleius. 
De  Glandeves. 
D'Escars. 

Bernard  de  Marigny 
De  Cice  Champion. 
Brun  de  Boades. 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 


441 


CRUISING    AND    TRANSPORTATION 

Fleet  of  the  Franco- American   alliance,    Comte  de  Barras,  lieutenant- 
general,  commanding 

[Blockade  of  mouth  of  York  River] 


Vessel. 

Guns. 

Officers 
and  men. 

Commander. 

Due  de  Bourgogne  .... 

80 

g3 
602 

Count  de  Barras,  chef  d'Escadre. 

Conquerant  
Provence 

74 
64 

659 

La  Grandiere. 

Eveill£  

64 

De  Tilly 

Jason  

64 

g 

La  Clochetterie 

Ardent 

64 

Bellone  

Did  not  continue  the  voyage  to  America 

Romulus 

Surveillante  

40 

3IO 

Sillart 

Amazone  ... 

4° 

.  ^21 

I,e  Perouse 

^6 

Sibylle  

CUTTERS. 

Guepe 

36 

3oo 

Serpente  

18 

145 

Ame  de  la  Laune. 

Total 

608 

RECAPITULATION 

Sea  power  of  France  in.  aid  of  the  States  at  the  investment  of  Yorktown,  Va. 


Vessels. 

Guns. 

Officers 
andcrew. 

Fleet  of  De  Grasse: 
Ships  of  the  line  

24 

l«j 

Frigates  

\  2,078 

18,  138 

\ 

Total  

28 

Fleet  of  De  Barras: 
Ships  of  the  line      .         .... 

Frigates 

I    gag 

Cutters  

2 

Total 

Grand  total 

2   776 

2-7   68? 

YORK    PENINSULA 

The  peninsula,  or  "neck  "  as  it  was  locally  called,  into  which 
the  English  army  was  forced,  is  about  30  miles  in  length,  with 
a  mean  width  of  5  miles,  having  a  northwesterly  trend  from  the 
York  River  and  Chesapeake  Bay  on  the  northeast  to  the  James 
River  on  the  southwest. 


442  Newport  to  York  town,  ij8i 

BRITISH   DEFENSES 

The  defenses  of  Yorktown,  as  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU 
found  them  when  they  undertook  their  reduction,  consisted  of 
7  redoubts  and  6  batteries,  connected  by  intrenchments  toward 
the  land.  A  line  of  water  batteries  along  the  bank  of  the  York 
River,  the  main  battery  mounting  1 1  guns,  covering  the  stream 
between  York  and  Gloucester  and  3  lunettes  overlooking  the 
valley  on  the  southwest  of  the  town,  i  on  the  east  of  and  bear 
ing  on  Hampton  Roads,  the  2  on  the  extreme  right  controlling 
the  river,  and  i  on  the  left,  also  near  the  river,  known  as  the 
fusiliers.  Cornwallis  occupied  the  mansion  of  Mr.  Nelson,  war 
governor  of  Virginia. 

BELEAGUERED   BRITISH 

The  army  of  Cornwallis,  within  the  defenses,  was  composed 
as  follows,  in  organization  and  numbers: 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  BRITISH  ARMY  AT  YORKTOWN,  VA.,  SEPTEMBER 
28  TO  OCTOBER  19,  1781 

[Return  of  troops,  October  i,  1781] 

Lieutenant-General  Earl  Cornwallis  in  command  of  His  Majesty's  forces 
in  Virginia;  Major-General  O'Hara  second  in  command. 

Right  wing,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Dundas  commanding. 
Left  wing,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Abercrombie  commanding. 

Organization  and  strength 

British: 

King's  G'uard 527 

Light  infantry,  First  and  Second  battalions  light  companies, 

Seventh  Regiment  of  the  Line 671 

Brigade  of  guards  (regiments): 

Seventeenth  foot 245 

Twenty-third  foot 233 

Thirty-third  foot 260 

Forty-third  foot ,    359 

Seventy-first  foot,  Second  battalion 300 

Seventy-sixth  foot 715 

Eightieth  foot 689 

Queen's  Rangers  (Simcoe) 320 


Newport  to  York  town,  1781  443 

Brigade  of  guards  (regiments) — Continued. 

British  Legion  of  Provincial  Contingent  (Tarleton) 241 

Royal  Artillery  Corps .'  233 

Light  dragoons,  Seventeenth  Regiment 

North  Carolina  volunteers 142 

Pioneers  and  engineers 69 

Light  companies,  Twenty-third  and  Eighty -second  regiments. 

Staff  departments 321 

Total  British  troops 5,  425 


Germans  (regiments): 

Anspachers,  De  Voits;  Bayreuth  Anspachers,  De  Seybothen  . .  i,  017 

Hessians,  Prince  Here"ditaire 484 

Hessians,  De  Bose  (Brunswick) 349 

Artillery  detachment 

Jagers ,  . 74 

Total  German  troops I,  924 

British  army 5,  425 

German  mercenaries i,  924 


Total  strength  of  forces  accounted  for  defending  the  forti 
fications  of  Yorktown  and  Gloucester 7,  3-49 

Unaccounted  for 380 


Accounted  and  unaccounted  for 7,  729 

Sailors  on  British  vessels  in  York  River 2,  ooo 


Total  British  land  and  naval  forces 9,  729 

Noncombatants : 

Negroes  variously  employed i,  800 

Tories i,  500 


Total  combatants  and  noncombatants  within  the  defenses  of 

Yorktown 13,  029 

DEFENSE   OF   GLOUCESTER 

The  defenses  of  Gloucester  were  occupied  by  a  force  under 
Dundas  consisting  of  800  men.  To  this  was  added  the  legion 
(provincial  contingent)  of  Tarleton,  which,  after  an  infamous 
tour  of  marauding,  having  met  defeat  at  the  hands  of  Lauzun, 
had  taken  refuge  there. 

The  British  earl  commanding,  feeling  the  weakness  of  his 
extended  line  of  defense  and  fearing  surprise,  on  the  night  of 


444  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

the  29th  withdrew  from  the  intrenched  camp  at  Pigeon  Hill. 
By  this  movement  the  British  confined  themselves  entirely 
within  the  limits  of  their  proper  fortifications. 

The  allies  took  possession  of  the  abandoned  works,  as  they 
answered  well  for  covering  the  fatigue  parties. 

AMERICAN   AND    FRENCH    POSITIONS 

The  whole  of  September  30  was  utilized  in  adapting  Pigeon 
Hill  to  the  uses  of  the  besiegers.  Two  inclosed  works  were  also 
constructed  between  the  hill  and  Moores  Mill. 

In  general,  at  the  opening  of  the  siege  the  investing  lines 
formed  a  semicircle  about  2  miles  from  the  British  works,  the 
extremes  resting  on  York  River.  The  Americans  held  the  right, 
with  the  headquarters  of  General  Lincoln  near  Wormeleys 
Creek,  the  light  infantry  of  Lafayette  and  Virginia  militia 
under  Governor  Nelson  extending  westward  north  of  the  Hamp 
ton  road.  The  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  Pennsylvania  Conti 
nental  line  under  Steuben,  laying  south  of  that  road,  advanced, 
with  the  New  York,  Rhode  Island,  and  New  Jersey  line  and 
sappers  and  miners  under  Gen.  James  Clinton  in  their  rear. 
The  American  artillery  was  parked  ready  for  use  in  the  rear 
of  Steuben's  left,  with  General  Knox's  headquarters,  artificers' 
camp,  and  quartermasters  in  its  rear. 

Across  a  marsh  and  small  stream  to  the  west  were  the  general 
headquarters  and  the  entire  French  army. 

The  headquarters  of  General  Washington  and  camp  of  his 
Life  Guards  occupied  the  center.  General  ROCHAMBEAU  was 
located  about  one-half  mile  northeast,  with  the  French  artillery 
parked  on  his  front,  all  covered  by  an  arm  of  the  small  stream 
and  marsh  referred  to. 

FRENCH    LINES 

About  three- fourths  of  a  mile  northwest  of  the  camp  of,  the 
French  artillery  lay  Regiments  Bourbonnais  and  Deux-Ponts, 
under  Baron  de  Viomenil;  on  their  left  Regiments  Soissonnais 
and  Saintonge,  under  Vicomte  Viomenil;  at  their  left  Saint- 
Simon  with  his  West  Indies  contingent — Agenois,  Touraine,  and 


Newport  to  York  town,  1781  445 

Gatinois — their  left  resting  on  the  river.  A  detachment  of 
Touraine  was  advanced  toward  the  British  left.  A  grand  guard 
was  thrown  out  toward  the  British  center. 

The  Due  de  Lauzun  with  his  legion,  the  land  troops  of  De  Bar- 
ras's  squadron,  and  General  Weedon  with  a  brigade  of  Virginia 
militia,  under  the  general  command  of  General  de  Choisy,  were 
detached  to  look  after  Gloucester. 

De  Grasse  occupied  L,ynnhaven  Bay,  whence  he  could  control 
the  entrance  to  the  Chesapeake,  should  Graves  make  another 
effort,  and  watch  any  attempts  on  the  part  of  Cornwallis  in  that 
direction. 

The  first  days  of  October  were  passed  in  reconnoisances,  test 
ing  the  enemy's  positions  and  strength,  making  fascines  and 
gabions,  and  setting  guns  in  position  under  fire  of  the  hostile 
pickets.  The  killing  of  four  men  of  the  Pennsylvania  line  and 
the  wounding  of  several  Frenchmen,  on  October  3,  gave  evi 
dence  of  British  vigilance. 

^  DE    GRASSE    BLOCKADES 

The  general  in  chief,  to  strengthen  his  position,  proposed  to 
De  Grasse  to  station  two  or  three  ships  above  the  British  posts 
on  York  River,  so  as  to  close  the  navigation  of  that  stream  to 
the  enemy,  also  to  prevent  their  armed  vessels,  which  had  access 
for  25  miles  above,  from  cutting  off  supplies  to  the  allied  camp 
and  raiding  parties  from  threatening  Williamsburg  and  the  maga 
zines  in  the  rear,  which  required  800  men,  weakening  to  that 
extent  operations  in  front.  This  part  of  the  river  being  open, 
also  interfered  with  concerted  measures  with  Gloucester  and 
compelled  a  circuit  of  90  miles  in  order  to  communicate. 

An  even  more  important  consideration  was  the  outlet  it  gave 
Cornwallis  for  making  a  good  retreat.  By  means  of  a  favorable 
wind  and  tide,  and  by  stealing  a  march,  he  might  proceed  unmo 
lested  to  West  Point,  where,  debarking  his  troops,  he  would  have 
the  Parnuiikey  on  one  flank  and  the  Mattapony  on  the  other, 
and,  by  mounting  the  greater  part  of  his  men,  by  forced  marches 
would  have  such  a  start  that  he  would  be  in  favorable  position 


446  Newport  to  York town ,  77^7 

to  push  his  way  across  the  country  and  join  the  remaining 
British  forces  in  New  York. 

This  was  the  only  weakness  in  the  beleaguering  lines.  The 
fleet  had  made  provisions  against  any  enterprises  of  the  enemy 
in  the  James  River. 

It  was  Washington's  proposition  to  detail  the  Experiment 'and 
two  frigates  for  the  proposed  patrol  of  York  River  above  the 
enemy '  s  works. 

FEARS   FIRE   RAFTS 

De  Grasse  was  entirely  opposed  to  passing  up  the  York  River 
where,  for  immediate  purposes,  the  way  was  open  to  the  British 
to  land  above  Queens  Creek  and  by  a  short  march  commit 
great  damage.  The  objection  of  De  Grasse  to  ascending  the 
river  was  not  the  enemy's  works  at  York  and  Gloucester,  but 
the  danger  of  accident  to  his  large  vessels  in  that  position,  and 
particularly  from  fire  ships,  the  material  for  which  the  enemy 
had  in  abundance.  In  the  whole  fleet  there  was  not  a  sufficient 
number  of  rowboats  and  light  craft  to  grapple  \fith  such  an 
emergency. 

Although  the  scheme  was  laid  aside  as  inadvisable,  it  was 
revived  for  stronger  reasons  later.  The  channel  was  recon- 
noitered  by  a  French  officer,  who  reported  to  De  Grasse. 
The  admiral  agreed  to  send  up  some  vessels  if  Washington 
would  furnish  rowboats  as  a  protection  against  fire  ships. 

The  movement  was  about  to  be  executed,  when  the  flag  bring 
ing  proposals  of  surrender  appeared  on  Washington's  front. 

The  besiegers  were  now  making  the  best  use  of  their  time 
and  zeal  in  pushing  forward  offensive  operations.  On  October 
i,  the  heavy  artillery  was  brought  over  fromTrebelli's  Landing 
on  James  River  and  put  in  position. 

The  news  of  Greene's  victory  at  Eutaw  Springs  on  Septem 
ber  8  having  just  been  received  was  very  cheering  to  the  allied 
forces. 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  447 

DISEASE   THREATENS 

The  climate  was  beginning  to  tell  on  the  men  of  both  armies. 
The  poisonous  miasma  of  the  peninsula  was  deadly.  The 
American  regiments,  poorly  supplied  with  clothing  and  medical 
stores,  were  afflicted  with  fever  and  ague,  few  of  the  troops 
being  exempt.  The  French,  with  their  abundant  supplies, 
were  not  free  from  the  effects  of  heavy  dews,  chilly  nights,  and 
warm  days. 

THE   FIRST  PARAIXEIv 

On  the  6th  a  detail  of  3,000  men  under  General  Lincoln  with 
shovels  and  gabions,  under  cover  of  darkness,  broke  ground  for 
the  first  parallel  within  600  yards  of  Cornwallis's  works.  By 
daylight  (October  7)  it  was  sufficiently  progressed  from  York 
River  to  Pigeon  Hill  to  serve  as  a  defense  against  the  enemy's 
fire.  On  the  same  day,  with  drums  beating  and  colors  flying, 
under  field  orders  for  the  conduct  of  the  siege,  the  parallel  was 
occupied,  the  standards  planted  and  the  operations  formally 
begun. 

During  the  yth  #nd  8th  the  first  parallel  was  completed  and 
guns  put  in  position.  This  construction  extended  from  the 
York  River  to  the  south  and  west.  At  its  end  was  an  American 
bomb  battery  and  on  its  extreme  left  a  French  battery  of  heavy 
guns. 

At  5  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  gth,  with  18  and  24 
pounders,  2  mortars,  and  2  howitzers,  the  Americans  opened  a 
general  bombardment  on  the  right,  Washington  applying  the 
match  to  the  first  gun. 

ROCHAMBEAU   OPENS 

The  French,  however,  were  the  first  to  open  fire,  having 
begun  their  display  of  gunnery  at  3  p.  m.  with  4  and  12  pounders 
and  6  mortars  and  howitzers  from  their  battery  on  the  extreme 
left.  ROCHAMBEAU  opened  the  battle,  which  was  continued  at 
a  lively  pace  by  Saint-Simon,  Chastellux,  and  the  Viomenils, 
who  were  in  command  in  the  trenches.  It  is  recorded  that  the 


448  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

first  shot  of  the  French  killed  Cornwallis's  commissary-general, 
and  wounded  the  quartermaster  and  adjutant  of  the  Seventy- 
sixth  Foot  Guard. 

This  bombardment,  which  lasted  eight  hours,  was  so  furious 
that  the  British  were  unable  to  reply,  being  obliged  to  with 
draw  their  guns  from  the  embrasures. 

"WAR  is  HELL" 

During  the  night  the  French  hurled  red-hot  shot  at  the 
British  frigate  Guadaloupe,  compelling  her  to  seek  safety 
higher  up  the  river. 

On  the  loth  two  French  batteries  of  10  and  18  pounders 
renewed  the  bombardment,  the  Americans  cooperating.  The 
firing  was  done  with  such  precision  and  effect  that  the  besieged 
were  again  compelled  to  withdraw  their  guns  from  the  embras 
ures  and  place  them  behind  the  merlons,  hardly  firing  a  shot. 

During  the  night  the  British  frigate  Charon,  44  guns,  was  set 
on  fire  by  the  French  battery  on  the  left  and  consumed,  but 
her  guns  and  stores  were  saved.  Two  transports  were  set  on 
fire  by  hot  shot  and  burned  to  the  water's  edge.  The  position 
of  the  rest  of  the  ships  being  no  longer  tenable,  the  vessels  were 
warped  to  the  Gloucester  shore. 

This  action  on  the  part  of  the  French  brought  the  fate  of 
the  British  army  within  the  defenses  of  Yorktown  a  long 
step  nearer. 

We  have  the  following  testimony  of  an  eye  witness  of  this 
ancient  realization  of  Sherman's  modern  epigram.  Doctor 
Thatcher  in  his  journal  tells  us: 

From  the  bank  of  the  river  I  had  a  fine  view  of  this  splendid  conflagra 
tion.  The  ships  were  enwrapped  in  a  torrent  of  fire,  which,  spreading  with 
vivid  brightness  among  the  combustible  rigging,  ran  with  amazing 
rapidity  to  the  tops  of  the  several  masts,  while  all  around  was  thunder 
and  lightning  from  our  numerous  cannon  and  mortars,  in  the  darkness 
of  night  presenting  one  of  the  most  sublime  and  magnificent  spectacles 
which  can  be  imagined.  Some  of  our  shells  overreaching  the  town  were 
seen  to  fall  in  the  river  and,  bursting,  throw  up  columns  of  water  like 
the  spouting  of  the  monsters  of  the  deep. 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  ij8i  449 

ATTEMPT  TO  TURN  DE  CHOISY 

On  the  same  night  a  considerable  British  force  embarked  on 
flatboats  for  an  attempt  to  turn  the  position  held  by  General  de 
Choisy  with  a  body  of  French  hussars  and  marines  and  Virginia 
militia  in  front  of  Gloucester.  De  Choisy  received  the  party 
with  such  a  demonstration  of  shell  and  artillery  that  they  were 
glad  to  get  back  to  York  without  being  killed  or  captured. 

The  Due  de  Lauzun  a  few  days  before  with  his  French  hus 
sars  had  badly  broken  up  the  notorious  Tarleton  with  his  Brit 
ish  dragoons  and  sent  him  limping  behind  the  breastworks  of 
Gloucester. 

SECOND   PARALLEL 

On  the  night  of  the  1 1  th  the  lines  of  the  second  parallel 
were  commenced  within  less  than  300  yards  of  the  right  of  the 
British  works,  and  were  occupied  within  three  days,  under  an 
incessant  fire.  This,  however,  did  not  complete  the  investment, 
owing  to  new  emplacements  arranged  for  the  enemy's  artillery, 
requiring  an  extension  of  the  parallel  on  the  right  to  the 
river  bank,  which  was  held  by  two  outer  works. 

These  two  redoubts,  about  300  yards  in  front  of  the  British 
left,  enabled  them  to  maintain  an  harassing  fire  upon  the  men 
in  the  parallels.  Washington  proposed  to  abate  the  annoyance 
by  their  capture.  The  one  on  the  right,  on  the  river's  brink, 
was  set  apart  for  the  American  light  infantry,  under  Lafayette, 
and  that  on  the  left  for  the  French  grenadiers  and  chasseurs, 
under  Baron  de  Viomenil. 

The  explosion  of  six  consecutive  bombs,  fired  from  the 
French  batteries,  was  the  signal  for  the  rush.  Washington  and 
ROCHAMBEAU  took  position  in  the  trenches  to  witness  the  move 
ment,  the  chief  approving  the  dispositions  as  each  detachment 
moved  off. 

STORMING   THE    REDOUBTS 

In  the  American  light  infantry,  under  Lafayette,  storming 
the   right   redoubt,    the  van   was   led   by    Gimat,    Lafayette's 
former  French  aid,  followed  by  the  commands  of  Lieutenant- 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 29 


450  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

Colonel  Hamilton,  Washington's  former  aid,  and  Maj.  Nicholas 
Fish.  Colonel  Armand,  Marquis  de  la  Rouerie,  the  famous 
French  cavalry  officer,  was  present  as  a  volunteer. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Laurens,  with  a  force  of  80  light  troops, 
turned  the  redoubt.  The  men  went  over  the  abattis  with  so 
much  spirit  that  the  garrison  had  barely  time  for  a  show  of 
resistance.  Captain  Olney  of  the  Rhode  Island  regiment,  was 
the  first  to  mount  the  parapet,  but  a  moment  after  fell,  danger 
ously  wounded.  •  The  work  was  carried  by  bayonet,  without  the 
firing  of  a  musket.  One  sergeant  and  8  privates  were  killed, 
and  7  officers  and  25  rank  and  file  wounded. 

Among  the  officers  wounded  were  Major  Gimat,  Major  Gibbs, 
c'ommanding  Washington's  bodyguard,  and  Captain  Olney,  of 
the  Rhode  Island  regiment.  The  enemy  lost  the  commanding 
officer,  a  subaltern,  and  17  privates  captured  and  8  killed. 

The  redoubt  to  the  left,  a  stronger  work  and  more  heavily 
armed,  assigned  to  the  French,  was  occupied  by  Hessians  com 
manded  by  a  lieutenant-colonel  and  defended  by  120  men. 

The  grenadiers  advanced  with  bayonets  fixed,  led  .by  Baron  de 
Viomenil,  Marquis  de  Rostaing,  and  Comte  de  Deux-Ponts, 
sword  in  hand.  The  storming  party  was  received  with  a  heavy 
fire,  under  which  they  stood  for  about  ten  minutes  during  the 
cutting  away  of  the  abattis,  when  the  men  charged  valiantly  over 
the  works.  The  assault  wras  most  determined,  consuming  about 
half  an  hour.  The  garrison  lost  18  killed  and  42  prisoners,  the 
rest  escaping.  The  French  loss  was  6  officers  wounded  and  100 
rank  and  file  killed  and  wounded.  Count  Mathieu  Dumas,  aid 
to  ROCHAMBEAU,  was  one  of  the  first  to  enter  the  redoubt. 
Comte  de  Deux-Ponts,  who  led  the  grenadiers,  was  wounded. 
Count  Charles  de  L,ameth,  adjutant-general,  was  shot  through 
both  knees. 

x  HONORS    FOR    GATlNOlS 

The  grenadiers  of  the  Regiment  Gatinois,  which  had  been 
formed  out  of  that  of  P.  uvergne,  were  to  be  led  to  the  attack. 
When  informed,  they  declared  their  willingness  "to  be  killed 
even  to  the  last  man,"  if  their  original  name,  which  they  so 


Newport  to  York  town,  1781  451 

much  revered,  would  be  restored  to  them.  ROCHAMBEAU  prom 
ised  it  should  be  done.  They  fought  with  desperation,  one- 
third  of  their  number  being  placed  hors  de  combat.  ROCHAM 
BEAU  reported  their  brave  conduct  to  the  King,  who  signed 
the  order  restoring  to  the  regiment  the  earlier  name  ' '  Royal 
Auvergne. ' ' 

Washington  the  next  day,  in  general  orders,  congratulated 
the  armies  on  the  result. 

The  captured  redoubts,  during  the  night  of  the  i4th,  were 
included  in  the  second  parallel,  and  howitzers  mounted.  By  5 
o'clock  the  next  day,  from  the  new  positions,  the  howitzers 
were  delivering  a  hot  fire  on  the  British.  Their  fascines,  guns, 
and  carriages  were  a  broken  mass,  and  the  town  was  enfiladed. 

A  SORTIE 

In  his  desperation  Cornwallis  on  the  i5th  made  a  sortie  about 

4  o'clock  in  the  morning  against  the  right  battery  of  the  French, 
with  such  terrific  onslaught  as  to  carry  it,  spike  4  guns,  wound 

5  officers,  and  carry  off  M.  de  Persignar,  the  commander.     The 
guards  from  the  trenches,  under  General  Chastellux,  hurrying 
to  the  support,  the  enemy  was  driven  within  his  own  works. 
In  a  few  hours  the  guns  were  again  in  service. 

A   DESPERATE    CHANCE 

Nothing  was  now  left  for  Cornwallis  but  the  desperate  alter 
native  of  cutting  through  the  beleaguering  lines  and  by  forced 
marches  reaching  a  place  of  safety.  On  the  night  of  the  i6th 
he  took  the  chance.  The  earl's  project  was  to  abandon  his 
sick  and  baggage,  and  with  his  effectives  cross  the  York  River, 
cut  up  Choisy,  Weedon,  and  Lauzun,  mount  his  men  on  horses 
taken  from  Lauzun's  Legion  and  animals  seized  in  the  country, 
and  so  make  a  dash  for  the  other  side  of  the  Rappahannock  and 
Potomac,  thence  marching  through  Maryland,  Pennsylvania, 
and  New  York,  and  forming  a  junction  with  Clinton.  This  was 
precisely  the  last  resort  Washington  desired  to  provide  against 
when  he  asked  De  Grasse  to  station  vessels  in  the  upper  York. 


452  Newport  to  York  town,  1781 

In  the  beginning  it  had  some  encouragement  of  success,  and 
might  have  changed  the  siege  of  Yorktown  into  a  race  for  the 
Hudson,  but  for  a  violent  storm.  This  inopportune  visitation 
preventing  the  rest  of  the  garrison  from  getting  across  York 
River,  compelled  the  first  division,  which  had  already  landed 
at  Gloucester  Point,  to  return.  With  this  retrograde  the  last 
hope  fled,  and  new  batteries  constantly  opening  their  deadly  fire 
soon  made  the  British  defenses  of  York  untenable. 

COUNTRYMEN   CURIOUS 

A  singular  phase  of"  the  siege  was  the  gathering  of  the  inhab 
itants  from  far  and  near  to  witness  the  close  of  the  drama, 
which  was  now  inevitable.  The  more  curious  even  crowded 
into  the  trenches,  under  fire,  materially  interfering  with  their 
secure  defense.  In  general  orders  all  persons  and  even  officers 
except  on  duty  were  prohibited  going  into  the  trenches,  unless 
they  presented  a  pass  signed  by  the  major-general  commanding. 

SOUNDS   A    PARITY 

As  the  sun  was  rising  out  of  the  waters  of  the  Chesapeake 
on  the  morning  of  the  iyth  of  October,  the  twelve  24  and  18- 
pounders,  four  mortars,  and  two  howitzers  of  the  American 
grand  battery  opened  fire.  The  rapidity  and  effect  was  such 
that  soon  a  trumpeter  sounded  a  parley  from  the  parapet  of  the 
British  works  opposite,  the  battery  having  ceased  firing. 

DE   GRASSK   INVITKD   IN   AT  THE   DEATH 

Immediately  upon  developing  the  purport  of  the  flag  Wash 
ington  transmitted  to  De  Grasse  a  copy  of  "a  letter  just 
received  from  L,ord  Cornwallis,"  making  request  for  twenty- 
four  hours'  suspension.  He  also  expressed  his  desire  to  have 
his  excellency  participate  in  the  ' '  treaty ' '  now  probable'.  He 
mentioned  the  happiness  it  would  give  him  to  welcome  his 
excellency  ' '  in  the  name  of  America  on  this  shore  and  embrace 
you  upon  an  occasion  so  advantageous  to  the  interests  of  the 
common  cause,  which  is  so  much  indebted  to  you."  The  chief 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  453 

intimated  that  if  naval  reasons  interfered  to  designate  an  officer 
to  represent  him.  De  Grasse  responded  by  sending  De  Barras, 
who  was  at  all  times  loyal. 

CAPITULATIONS   SIGNED 

Earl  Cornwallis  asked  a  cessation  of  hostilities  for  twenty- 
four  hours,  and  that  two  officers  might  be  appointed  on  each 
side  "to  settle  terms  for  the  surrender  of  the  posts  of  York 
and  Gloucester." 

By  the  same  flag,  returning,  General  Washington,  from  camp 
before  York,  desired  Cornwallis  to  send  his  proposals  to  the 
American  lines  in  writing,  and  granted  a  suspension  of  hostili 
ties  during  two  hours  from  the  delivery  of  his  letter. 

To  this  Cornwallis  responded  at  half-past  4  o'clock  p.  m., 
same  day,  submitting  his  proposals,  which  were  disapproved  by 
General  Washington,  who  the  next  day  declared  "  the  general 
basis  upon  which  a  definitive  treaty  and  capitulation  must  take 
place. ' ' 

To  this  Earl  Cornwallis  responded  in  submission,  asking  that 
a  sloop  of  war  might  be  left  at  his  disposal  ' '  from  the  hour 
the  capitulation  is  signed, ' '  to  receive  an  aid-de-camp  to  carry 
dispatches  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton. 

The  commissioners  on  each  side  were  named,  met,  and 
arranged  the  articles  of  capitulation,  the  Viscount  de  Noailles 
representing  General  Washington  on  the  part  of  the  French 
allies.  The  i8th  was  passed  in  negotiations,  which  Washington 
closed  by  having  the  stipulations  copied  and  sent  in  to  be 
signed  by  1 1  a.  m.  on  the  igth,  the  surrender  to  take  place  at 
2  p.  m.  the  same  day. 

ARTICLES 

As  set  forth  in  the  introduction,  the  articles  of  capitulation 
were — 

Settled  between  His  Excellency  General  Washington,  commander  in 
chief  of  the  combined  forces  of  America  and  France,  his  excellency  the 
Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  lieutenant-general  of  the  armies  of  the  King  of 
France,  Great  Cross  of  the  Royal  and  Military  Order  of  St.  L,ouis,  com 
manding  the  auxiliary  troops  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty  in  America, 


454  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

and  his  excellency  the  Count  de  Grasse,  lieutenant-general  of  the  naval 
armies  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty,  commander  of  the  Order  of  St. 
Ivouis,  commander  in  chief  of  the  naval  army  of  France  in  the  Chesapeake, 
on  the  one  part;  the  other  part  being  the  chiefs  of  the  surrendering  land 
and  naval  forces  of  His  Britannic  Majesty. 

The  articles  of  capitulation,  October  19,  1781,  on  the  Ameri 
can  side,  "  done  in  the  trenches  before  Yorktown,  in  Virginia," 
were  signed  by  George  Washington,  Le  Comte  DE  ROCHAM- 
BEAU,  lye  Comte  de  Barras,  ' '  in  my  name  and  that  of  Comte  de 
Grasse;"  and  on  the  British  side  at  "Yorktown"  in  Virginia, 
by  Cornwallis  and  Thomas  Symonds  (for  the  British  naval 
forces  on  York  River) . 

SCENES   OF  SURRENDER 

The  field  of  surrender  lay  three-fourths  of  a  mile  south  of 
Yorktown,  west  of  the  Hampton  road.  Along  the  route  of 
march  from  the  late  British  works  the  American  army  was 
drawn  up  on  the  right  of  the  road.  The  French  line  paralleled 
it,  each  facing  inward.  The  French  troops,  in  their  uniforms  of 
white,  with  their  white  damask  standards  powdered  with  rich 
embroideries  of  the  golden  fleur-de-lis  of  the  house  of  Bourbon, 
and  officers  gayly  attired,  wearing  glittering  orders  and  decora 
tions  of  precious  metals  and  gems,  formed  a  striking  contrast 
to  the  war-worn,  wasted,  and  multi-fashioned  uniforms  of  the 
Americans.  Yet  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  young  in  action,  resplen 
dent  in  meaning  and  design,  waved  gloriously  for  the  lesson 
of  the  day  and  interpretation  of  the  future. 

At  the  head  of  the  American  line  was  Washington,  mounted 
on  a  splendid  white  war  .charger,  surrounded  by  his  general 
officers,  Lafayette,  Lincoln,  Steuben,  Knox,  Duportail,  and 
Nelson.  ROCHAMBEAU,  mounted  on  a  magnificent  bay,  had 
position  at  the  head  of  his  valorous  Frenchmen,  with  Chastel- 
lux  and  Baron  and  Comte  de  Viomenil  grouped  near  by.  A 
squadron  of  De  Lauzun's  French  hussars  was  drawn  up  in  a 
circle  in  the  open  field. 


Newport  to  York  town,  1781  455 

GROUND    ARMS 

/ 

The  conquered  Britons  and  Hessians,  evacuating  their  works, 
marched  along  the  road,  colors  cased,  drums  beating,  in  the 
new  uniforms  which  they  had  donned  that  morning  under 
Cornwallis's  orders,  to  prevent  them  falling  into  the  hands 
of  the  conquerors.  Upon  reaching  the  field  the  men  of  each 
regiment  passed  within  the  cordon  of  hussars,  laid  down  their 
muskets,  and  returned  to  their  lines  to  await  the  surrender  of 
their  colors. 

Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU  moved  to  the  front. 

SURRENDERING  THE  STANDARDS 

The  officer  of  the  day,  in  charge  of  the  ceremony,  took  posi 
tion  in  front.  Facing  him  were  the  British  captains,  each  bear 
ing  the  flag  of  his  regiment.  The  same  number  of  American 
sergeants  were  drawn  up  to  receive  them.  The  officer  of  the 
day  gave  orders  to  the  captains  to  advance  two  paces  and  deliver 
colors,  the  sergeants  to  advance  two  paces  to  receive  them.  The 
British,  hesitating,  explained  it  as  being  in  their  opinion  a 
needless  humiliation  to  surrender  the  flags  to  noncommissioned 
officers.  Colonel  Hamilton,  in  charge,  directed  the  officer  of 
the  day  to  receive  the  colors  and  pass  them  to  the  sergeants. 

SURRENDER   OF   THE   SWORD 

The  closing  scene  of  capitulation,  the  surrender  of  the  sword, 
fell  upon  General  O'Hafa,  representing  Karl  Cornwallis,  who 
was  reported  ill.  Stepping  forward,  the  Briton  offered  the 
weapon  to  ROCHAMBEAU,  as  less  humiliating  than  surrendering 
it  to  a  rebel.  The  Count  waved  him  to  General  Washington, 
who  in  turn  handed  him  over  to  General  Lincoln,  designated 
to  receive  it,  as  a  retaliation  of  the  indignities  placed  upon  him 
at  the  surrender  of  Charleston.  The  entire  British  army  then 
went  into  camp,  surrounded  by  a  guard  of  American  and  French 
troops. 


456  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

REPEATED   AT   GLOUCESTER 

A  similar  ceremony  at  the  same  time,  by  order  of  the  com 
mander  in  chief,  took  place  at  Gloucester,  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river,  General  de  Choisy,  of  the  French  army,  receiving 
the  surrender  of  that  post. 

The  surrender  of  the  garrison  of  Gloucester  was  conducted 
under  the  following  autograph  instructions  from  Washington 
to  Brigadier- General  de  Choisy,  of  the  French  army,  dated  at 
headquarters  October  19,  1781 : 

I  have  the  honor,  with  many  congratulations,  to  inform  you  that  i 
o'clock  this  afternoon  is  appointed  fof  the  delivery  of  two  of  the  enemy's 
redoubts  on  the  Gloucester  side;  one  to  a  detachment  of  French,  the 
other  to  a  detachment  of  American  troops.  The  garrison  is  to  march  out 
at  3  o'clock  (with  shouldered  arms,  drums  beating  a  British  or  German 
march,  the  cavalry  with  their  swords  drawn,  and  the  colors  cased),  to  a 
place  which  you  will  be  so  good  as  to  appoint  in  front  of  the  posts,  where 
they  will  ground  their  arms,  and  afterwards  return  to  their  encampment. 
You  wTill  be  so  good  as  to  communicate  this  to  General  Weedon  and  to 
make  the  necessary  arrangements,  and  I  will  have  him  to  take  every  pre 
caution  to  prevent  the  loss  or  embezzlement  of  the  arms. 

ORGANIZATIONS   AND    NONCOMBATANTS   SURRENDERED 

The  following  organizations  of  the  British  army  and  navy, 
German  mercenaries,  and  noncombatants  were  accounted  for 
after  the  surrender  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  October  19,  1871: 

Troops: 

Surrendered,  effectives  and  noneffectives 7,  247 

Killed  ....             156 

Wounded 326 


Total 7,  729 

Sailors 2,  ooo 

Negroes ,  i,  800 

Tories i,  500 


Grand  total 13,  029 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  457 

TROPHIES  OF  THE  WAR 

The  trophies  of  the  victory  in  material  of  war  were: 

75  brass  cannon. 

1 60  iron  cannon. 

7,794  muskets. 

28  regimental  standards  (10  English  and  18  German). 

Large  quantity  of  cannon  and  musket  balls,  bombs,  carriages,  etc. 

The  military  chest,  containing  $11,000  in  specie. 

It  may  be  added  the  United  States  is  one  of  but  three  coun 
tries  of  the  world — the  other  two  being  France,  our  ally,  and 
Argentina — which  can  display  British  flags  as  trophies  of  war. 

The  whole  number  known  to  have  been  captured  by  the 
"American  rebels"  from  the  British  during  the  war  for  inde 
pendence  was  50.  A  goodly  share  are  yet  preserved  as  relics. 

COMTE   DE   ROCHAMBEAU'S   ACCOUNT 

The  story  of  the.  French  troops  in  this  glorious  achievement 
is  thus  given  by  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  under  his  own  hand: 

The  trenches  were  opened  by  two  attacks  above  and  below  the  York 
River  during  the  night  of  the  6th  and  7th  of  October.  That  on  the  right 
had  600  toises  (3,600  feet)  of  development.  It  was  flanked  by  four 
redoubts.  The  feat  was  accomplished  without  loss,  for  the  reason  we 
commenced  the  work  by  an  attack  on  the  left,  which,  although  false, 
attracted  all  the  attention  of  the  enemy.  The  strength  of  the  hostile 
army  which  was  invested  and  the  character  of  him  who  commanded  it 
compelled  the  conduct  of  the  attacks  with  much  care  and  precaution.  It 
is  here  proper  to  speak  in  praise  of  M.  Duportail  and  M.  de  Guerret, 
who  conducted  the  siege  at  the  head  of  the  engineers,  and  of  M.  de  Abo- 
ville  and  of  General  Knox,  commandants  of  artillery  of  the  two  nations. 
The  American  army  occupied  the  right  of  the  trenches  and  the  French 
the  center  and  left.  We  must  render  to  the  Americans  the  justice  to  say 
that  they  comported  themselves  with  a  zeal,  a  courage,  and  an  emulation 
which  never  left  them  behind  in  any  duty  with  which  they  were  charged, 
although  they  were  strangers  to  the  operations  of  a  siege. 

We  set  on  fire  with  our  batteries  a  vessel  of  war  of  the  enemy  and  three 
transports  which  were  anchored  in  the  river,  in  order  to  prevent  attack. 

On  the  night  of  the  I4th  and  I5th,  the  trenches  having  been  relieved  by 
the  Regiments  Gatinais  and  Deux-Ponts,  under  the  orders  of  Baron  de 
Viomenil,  we  resolved  to  make  an  attack  on  the  two  redoubts  of  the  enemy. 
General  Washington  charged  Lafayette  with  that  on  the  right  and  I  charged 


,458  Newport  to  York  town,  1781 

M.  de  Viomenil  with  that  on  the  left,  with  the  400  French  grenadiers 
debouched  at  the  head  of  this  attack  under  the  orders  of  M.  Guillaume 
des  Deux- Fonts  and  of  M.  de  L'Estrade,  lieutenant-colonel  of  Gatinais. 
M.  de  Viomenil  and  Lafayette  conducted  the  attack  so  vigorously  that 
the  redoubts  were  carried,  sword  in  hand,  at  the  same  moment.  They 
killed,  wounded,  or  captured  the  larger  part  of  those  who  defended  them. 

The  lodgment  was  effected  by  joining  these  redoubts  by  means  of 
communication  on  the  right  of  our  second  parallel .  Their  emplacements 
furnished  the  means  of  establishing  new  batteries,  which  succeeded  in 
surrounding  the  army  of  Cornwallis  and  in  raking  by  ricochet  the  entire 
interior  of  the  place,  which  made  the  position  untenable.  The  Comte 
Guillaume  des  Deux-Ponts  was  wounded,  as  were  also  Charles  de  Lameth, 
adjutant-general,  and  M.  de  Gimat,  aid-de-camp  of  Lafayette. 

We  must  make  mention  here  of  a  trait  which  characterized  the  French 
grenadiers.  The  regiment  of  grenadiers  of  Gatinais,  which  had  been 
separated  from  that  of  d'Auvergne,  was  to  lead  the  attack.  When  it  was 
decided,  I  said  to  them,  "My  children,  I  have  need  of  you  to-night.  I  hope 
you  have  not  forgotten  that  we  have  served  together  in  the  brave  regiment 
'd'Auvergne  sans  tache'  (Auvergne  without  reproach),  an  honorable 
name  which  it  has  merited  since  its  organization. ' '  They  replied  that  if 
I  permitted  them  to  win  back  their  name  they  would  go  to  death  to  the 
last  man.  They  kept  their  word,  charged  like  lions,  and  lost  one-third  of 
their  men.  M.  de  Sireuil,  captain  of  chasseurs,  was  wounded  and  died 
universally  regretted.  The  King  on  receiving  my  account  of  their  brav 
ery  signed  the  ordonnaire  which  restored  to  the  regiment  the  name  Royal 
Auvergne. 

The  night  of  the  I5th  and  i6th  the  enemy  made  a  sortie  with  600  picked 
men.  They  sounded  the  resistance  of  all  our  batteries  and  threw  them 
selves  against  a  work  on  the  second  parallel,  in  which  they  spiked  four 
guns.  Chevalier  Chastellux  marched  promptly  against  the  enemy  with 
his  reserve  and  repulsed  the  sortie.  The  four  pieces  spiked  were  in  action 
again  six  hours  later,  through  the  efforts  of  Gen.  J.  Aboville,  commandant 
of  our  artillery.  Marquis  Saint-Simon  was  wounded  in  the  trenches 
the  next  day,  but  finished  his  twenty-four  hours  without  asking  to  be 
relieved. 

At  length,  on  the  iyth,  enemy  commenced  a  parley,  and  the  capitulation 
was  signed -on  the  igth  of  October,  under  which  Cornwallis  and  his  corps 
d'arm£e  were  prisoners  of  war. 

The  Americans  and  the  French  took  possession  of  the  two  bastions  at 
noon.  The  garrison  denied  at  2  o'clock  between  the  two  armies,  drums 
beating,  carrying  arms,  and  followed  by  a  score  of  flags  cased.  Lord 
Cornwallis  being  sick,  General  O'Hara  defiled  at  the  head  of  the  garri 
son.  In  coming  up  he  presented  to  me  his  sword.  I  pointed  him  to  Gen 
eral  Washington,  opposite,  at  the  head  of  the  American  army,  saying  to 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  459 

him,  the  French  army  being  auxiliary  on  this  continent,  it  was  for  the 
American  general  to  give  him  his  orders. 

Colonel  Laurens,  Vicomtede  Noailles,  and  M.  de  Granchain  were  named 
by  their  respective  generals  to  draw  up  the  articles  of  capitulation  con 
jointly  with  the  superior  officers  of  the  army  of  Cornwallis. 

The  Count  also  gives  particulars  respecting  the  signing  of 
the  capitulations,  the  capture  of  prisoners  and  material  of  war. 

AS   A    FEAT   OF   ARMS. 

This  feat  of  arms,  the  capture  of  the  army  of  the  English 
King  on  the  shore  of  Chesapeake  Bay  in  the  autumn  of  1781, 
will  always  hold  a  place  among  the  decisive  events  of  history. 
It  paralyzed  the  energies  of  the  first  of  military  and  naval 
powers  and  made  assured  the  contention  of  the  States  in  rebel 
lion. 

The  transfer  of  the  French  army  from  Newport  to  the  Hud 
son,  part  of  its  way  within  striking  distance  by  the  enemy,  was 
in  itself  an  achievement  in  the  applied  tactics  of  strategy.- 
The  reconnoissances  on  the  front  of  the  powerfully  intrenched 
enemy  on  New  York  Island  were  masterful  in  every  sense  The 
feints  on  the  opposite  banks  of  the  Hudson,  in  view  of  Clinton 
and  his  batteries  and  ships,  were  well  conceived  and  effectively 
executed.  The  transfer  of  7,000  men  from  the  east  bank  of  the 
Hudson  to  the  James,  crossing  three  of  the  largest  rivers  of  the 
continent  and  innumerable  smaller  ones,  ranked  among  the  great 
marches  of  armies.  The  investment  of  the  enemy  was  of  the 
highest  order  of  engineering  skill;  the  conduct  of  the  siege  was 
a  masterpiece  of  celerity  and  action,  the  surrender  a  climax 
entitled  to  comparison  with  events  of  a  similar  character  in  the 
chronicles  of  belligerent  operations. 

The  career  of  Earl  Cornwallis  in  the  Seven  Years'  War  in 
Europe  and  eight  years'  war  in  America  had  been  generally 
successful.  His  troops  were  veterans  skilled  in  arms.  On 
L,ong  Island,  in"  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Georgia,  and  the 
Carolinas  he  had  generally  won.  Gates,  the  English-American, 
had  been  defeated  at  Camden,  as  had  been  our  own  gallant 
Greene  at  Guilford  Court- House.  Through  dexterity  of  maneu- 


460  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

ver  on  the  part  of  Greene,  Cornwallis,  having  been  separated 
from  his  base  at  Savannah,  Charleston,  or  Wilmington,  met  his 
master  in  the  young  Frenchman,  Lafayette,  in  Virginia.  Then 
events  followed  like  a  whirlwind.  Cornwallis  marching  up 
from  the  south  with  8,000  Englishmen  and  Germans,  Wash 
ington  and  ROCHAMBKAU  marching  down  from  the  north  with 
7,000  Frenchmen  and  Americans,  met  just  half-way  between 
the  extremes  of  departure,  on  ground  of  the  enemy's  own 
selecting. 

Without  ROCHAMBKAU  and  his  Frenchmen  on  land  and  De 
Grasse  and  his  Frenchmen  on  sea v  the  glorious  consummation 
would  have  been  beyond  the  resources  at  command.  With  the 
aid  of  the  French  the  drama  of  the  American  Revolution  became 
a  triumph. 

On  August  19  the  French  auxiliary  army  under  ROCHAM- 
BEAU  broke  camp  on  the  Hudson  and,  accompanied  by  the 
American  detachment,  began  its  march.  Having  traversed 
nearly  800  miles,  it  united  with  the  French  forces  under  Saint- 
Simon  and  the  American  under  Lafayette  on  the  James.  Hav 
ing  built  two  parallels  against  works  of  the  best  engineering 
skill,  after  bombardment  and  assault,  the  vanquished,  without 
terms  other  than  conceded  by  the  victors,  laid  down  their  arms 
and  gave  up  their  colors  in  precisely  two  months  to  the  day. 
In  the  meantime  De  Grasse  swept  the  sea.  War  never  pre 
sented  sixty  days  of  more  pregnant  events. 

CONGRATULATIONS 

In  his  congratulations  to  the  army  ' '  upon  the  glorious  events 
of  yesterday ' '  the  general  in  chief  mentioned — 

"The  generous  proofs  which  His  Most  Christian  Majesty  has  given  of  his 
attachment  to  the  cause  of  America  must  force  conviction  on  the  minds  of 
the  most  deceived  among  the  enemy  relative  to  the  good  consequences 
of  the  alliance,  and  inspire  every  citizen  of  these  States  with  sentiments  of 
the  most  unalterable  gratitude.  His  fleet,  the  most  numerous  and  power 
ful  that  ever  appeared  in  these  seas,  commanded  by  an  admiral  whose 
fortune  and  talents  insure  great  events,  and  an  army  of  the  most  admirable 
composition,  both  in  officers  and  men,  are  the  pledges  of  his  friendship  to 
the  United  States,  and  their  cooperation  has  secured  us  the  present  signal 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  461 

success.  The  general  on  this  occasion  conveys  his  most  grateful  acknowl 
edgments  for  his  counsel  at  all  times.  He  presents  his  warmest  thanks  to 
the  generals,  Baron  de  Viomenil,  Chevalier  Chastellux,  Marquis  de  Saint- 
Simon,  and  Count  de  Viomenil,  and  to  Brigadier- General  de  Choisy,  who 
had  a  separate  command,  for  the  illustrious  manner  in  which  they  have 
advanced  the  interests  of  the  common  cause.  He  requests  that  Count  DE 
ROCHAMBEAU  will  be  pleased  to  communicate  to  the  army  under  his 
immediate  command  the  high  sense  he  entertains  of  the  distinguished 
merits  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  every  corps,  and  that  he  will  present 
in  his  name  to  the  regiments  of  Age*nois  and  Deux-Ponts  the  two  pieces 
of  brass  ordnance  captured  by  them  (as  a  testimony  of  their  gallantry)  in 
storming  the  enemy's  redoubt  on  the  night  of  the  I4th  instant,  when 
officers  and  men  so  universally  vied  with  each  other  in  the  exercise  of 
every  soldierly  virtue. 

At  the  request  of  Washington,  on  the  2oth,  General  Knox, 
in  the  name  of  the  commander  in  chief,  thanked  the  officers  of 
the  corps  of  artillery,  observing  among  other  agreeable  utter 
ances: 

The  attention  to  the  public  interests  in  all  ranks  of  officers  in  bring 
ing  forward  with  uncommon  labor  to  this  point  the  cannon  and  stores, 
have,  in  conjunction  with  those  of  our  good  friends,  the  French,  in  a  capi 
tal  degree,  effected  the  joyful  event  of  the  igth,  which  merits  the  warmest 
effusion  of  gratitude. 

INCIDENTS 

Among  the  many  incidents  of  the  surrender,  these  may  be 
recalled: 

The  appearance  of  the  flag,  asking  a  parley,  brought  up  the 
memory  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga  on  the  same 
day  four  years  before.  That  event  was  made  the  basis  of  the 
cabal  against  Washington  in  the  effort  to  place  Gates  at  the 
head  of  the  army.  Gates,  after  a  disastrous  experience  in 
the  south,  having  been  superseded  by  Greene,  who  redeemed 
the  prestige  of  American  arms,  and  all  others  engaged  in  the 
cabal  having  sunk  into  oblivion,  Washington,  in  his  masterful 
direction  of  the  delicate  situations  growing  out  of  the  alliance, 
the  handling  of  the  French  army  and  navy,  and  the  difficult 
transfer  of  the  seat  of  operations  from  the  Hudson  to  the  York, 
a  distance  of  over  700  miles,  now  stood  triumphant  before  his 
countrymen  and  the  world. 


462  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

Cornwallis,  pleading  illness  to  hide  chagrin,  having  sent 
O'Hara  out  at  the  head  of  the  garrison,  the  gallant  Irishman, 
taking  it  as  a  great  humiliation  having  to  surrender  to  an 
American  rebel,  tendered  his  sword  rather  to  ROCHAMBKAU,  a 
Frenchman.  The  gallant  leader  of  the  allies  refused,  motion 
ing  to  his  American  chief,  remarking,  ' '  You  receive  your  orders 
from  General  Washington," -the  latter  in  turn  saying,  "You 
surrender  your  sword  to  General  Lincoln."  This  was  in  retali 
ation  for  the  humiliating  terms  put  upon  that  officer  by  Corn 
wallis  when  in  high  feather  at  the  capture  of  Charleston  the 
year  before. 

The  Hessians  of  Cornwallis's  army  and  the  chasseurs  of  L,au- 
zun's  legion  embraced  in  the  name  of  the  Fatherland — one  sold 
into  service  against,  and  the  other  freely  serving  for,  liberty. 

The  day  after  the  surrender  ROCHAMBKAU  dined  General 
O'Hara  and  a  small  party  of  other  British  officers.  The  French 
were  struck  with  the  gayety  exhibited  by  the  English  and  Hes 
sians,  in  view  of  their  defeat.  At  the  close  of  the  entertainment 
the  French  officers  called  upon  Earl  Cornwallis,  who  received 
them  cordially.  The  British  and  Hessian  officers  compliment 
ing  the  French  upon  their  artillery  practice,  the  French  urged 
equal  praise  of  the  American  fire  as  no  less  efficient.  They 
hold  the  same  degree  of  proficiency  among  the  armies  of  the 
world  of  to-day. 

In  communicating  officially  to  the  President  of  Congress 
'  *  the  reduction  of  the  British  army  under  the  command  of  Lord 
Cornwallis,"  the  commander  in  chief  said  this  of  his  French 
companions: 

I  should  be  deemed  wanting  in  feelings  of  gratitude  did  I  not  mention  on 
this  occasion  with  the  warmest  sense  of  acknowledgment  the  very  cheer 
ful  and  able  assistance  which  I  have  received  in  the  course  of  our  operations 
from  his  excellency  the  Count  DE  ROCHAMBKAU.  Nothing  could  equal 
this  zeal  of  our  allies  but  the  emulating  spirit  of  the  American  officers, 
whose  ardor  would  not  suffer  their  exertions  to  be  exceeded. 

The  very  uncommon  degree  of  duty  and  fatigue  which  the  nature  of 
the  service  required  from  the  officers  of  engineers  and  artillery  of  both 
armies  obliges  me  particularly  to  mention  the  obligations  I  am  under  to 
the  commanding  and  other  officers  of  those  corps. 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  463 

I  wish  it  were  in  my  power  to  express  to  Congress  how  much  I  feel 
myself  indebted  to  Count  de  Grasse  and  the  officers  of  the  fleet  under  his 
command,  for  the  distinguished  aid  and  support  which  have  been  afforded 
by  them,  between  whom  and  the  army  the  most  happy  concurrence  of 
sentiments  and  views  has  subsisted,  and  from  whom  every  possible  coop 
eration  has  been  experienced  which  the  most  harmonious  intercourse  could 
afford. 

THANKS   OF   CONGRESS 

In  every  measure  of  recognition  of  the  Yorktown  victory 
Congress  combined  France  with  the  United  States.  -In  return 
ing  official  thanks  ' '  to  Almighty  God, ' '  it  was  for  ' '  crowning 
the  allied  armies  of  the  United  States  and  France  with  suc 
cess."  In  instructing  their  committee,  it  was  as  to  "  the  most 
popular  mode  of  communicating  the  thanks  of  the  United  States 
in  Congress  assembled  to  General  Washington,  Count  DE 
ROCHAMBEAU,  and  Count  de  Grasse."  They  "ordered  that 
the  secretary  of  foreign  affairs  communicate  this  intelligence 
to  the  honorable  the  minister  plenipotentiary  of  France." 

On  October  26  a  proclamation  was  adopted  and  promulgated 
acknowledging  ' '  the  influence  of  Divine  Providence  in  raising 
up  for  us  a  powerful  ally  in  one  of  the  first  of  the  European 
powers,"  and  praying  to  God  <(to  protect  and  prosper  our 
illustrious  ally." 

On  the  29th  the  committee  having  in  charge  the  letters  of 
General  Washington  reported  resolutions,  unanimously  adopted, 
after  thanking  the  commander  in  chief,  declaring  that  the 
thanks  of  the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled  be  pre 
sented  to  his  excellency  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  for  the  cor 
diality,  zeal,  judgment,  and  fortitude  with  which  he  seconded 
and  advanced  the  progress  of  the  allied  army  against  the  British 
garrison  in  York. 

That  the  thanks  of  the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled  be  presented 
to  his  excellency  Count  de  Grasse  for  his  skill  and  bravery  in  attacking 
and  defeating  the  British  off  the  Bay  of  Chesapeake,  and  for  his  zeal  and 
alacrity  in  rendering  with  the  fleet  under  his  command  the  most  effectual 
and  distinguished  aid  and  support  in  the  operations  of  the  allied  army  in 
Virginia. 


464  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

That  the  thanks  of  the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled  be  pre 
sented  to  the  commanding  and  other  officers  of  the  Corps  of  Artillery  and 
Engineers  of  the  allied  army,  who  sustained  extraordinary  fatigue  and 
danger  in  their  animated  and  gallant  approaches  to  the  lines  of  the  enemy. 

General  Washington  was  further  directed  to  communicate  to 
the  other  officers  and  soldiers  under  his  command  the  thanks  of 
the  United  States  for  their  conduct  and  valor  on  this  occasion. 

A   MONUMENTAL    TRIBUTE 

Also,  by  the  same  resolutions,  Congress  was  to  cause  to  be 
erected  at  York,  Va.,  a  marble  column  adorned  with  emblems 
of  the  alliance  between  the  United  States  and  His  Most  Chris 
tian  Majesty,  and  inscribed  with  a  succinct  narrative  of  the 
surrender  of  Earl  Cornwallis  to  His  Excellency  General  Wash 
ington,  commander  in  chief  of  the  combined  forces  of  America 
and  France,  to  his  excellency  the  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU, 
commanding  the  auxiliary  troops  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty 
in  America,  and  his  excellency  the  Count  de  Grasse,  com 
mander  in  chief  of  the  naval  army  of  France  in  the  Chesapeake. 

CANNON  FOR  ROCHAMBEAU  AND  DE  GRASSE 

Two  pieces  of  field  ordnance  taken  from  the  British  army 
were  authorized 


be  presented  by  the  commander  in  chief  of  the  American  Army  to  Count 
DE  ROCHAMBEAU  to  be  engraved  thereon  a  short  memorandum  that  Con 
gress  were  induced  to  present  them  from  considerations  of  the  illustrious 
part  which  he  bore  in  effectuating  the  surrender. 

The  secretary  of  foreign  affairs  was  directed  to  ' '  request  the 
minister  plenipotentiary  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty  to 
inform  His  Majesty  that  it  is  the  wish  of  Congress  that  Count  de 
Grasse  may  be  permitted  to  accept  a  testimonial  of  their  approba 
tion  similar  to  that  to  be  presented  to  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU.  ' ' 

DE    LA   LUZERNE    PLEASED    FOR   THE    KING 

On  November  2,  1781,  Robert  R.  Livingston,  secretary  for 
foreign  affairs,  inclosed  a  copy  of  the  resolutions  of  the  29th 
ultimo  to  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerie,  the  French  minister  to  the 


Newport  to  York  town,  1781  465 

United  States.  Luzerne  replied  two  days  later  he  had  no  doubt 
His  Majesty- 
will  learn  with  pleasure  that  the  remembrance  of  the  success  obtained  by 
the  allied  armies  is  to  be  preserved  by  a  column,  on  which  a  relation  of 
this  event  will  be  inscribed  and  mention  made  of  the  alliance.  *  *  * 
It  is  so  honorable  to  the  two  nations  to  perpetuate  this  remembrance  of 
their  union  that  we  ought  to  be  mutually  desirous  of  giving  it  all  the  solid 
ity  and  durability  of  which  the  works  of  man  are  susceptible. 

Two  days  later  Livingston  gave  an  appreciative  reply,  advising 
the  French  minister  of  his  readiness  ' '  to  receive  with  pleasure 
any  communications  he  will  do  me  the  honor  to  make  on  the 
subject." 

On  November  7,  on  motion  of  Mr.  Randolph,  the  secretary  of 
foreign  affairs  was — 

directed  to  prepare  a  sketch  of  emblems  of  the  alliance  *  *  *  to  be 
inscribed  on  the  proposed  marble  column,  under  the  resolution  of 
October  29. 

On  December  16,  under  this  resolution,  the  secretary  of  foreign 
affairs  addressed  Benjamin  Franklin,  minister  at  the  Court  of 
Versailles,  requesting  him  to  procure  a  suitable  design. 

The  American  minister  of  foreign  affairs,  in  his  correspond 
ence  with  De  la  Luzerne,  having  dropped  a  hint  of  the  unsatis 
factory  state  of  the  public  finances,  and  Franklin,  doubtless  from 
the  same  cause,  not  having  sent  any  design,  the  matter  was 
passed  over. 

IN    FRANCE 

In  order  to  facilitate  the  transmission  of  official  information 
concerning  the  glorious  military  transactions  just  closed,  instead 
of  using  the  ordinary  channel  of  the  department  of  foreign 
affairs,  a  French  frigate,  dispatched  by  Comte  de  Grasse  to 
France,  conveyed  Due  de  Lauzun  as  bearer  direct  of  a  letter 
to  Benjamin  Franklin  from  Washington,  dated  "Headquarters 
near  York,  October  22, "  transmitting  the  capitulation  and  return 
of  prisoners,  cannon,  and  war  material  taken  at  both  places. 
As  the  success  was  important  to  American  interests  in  Europe, 
a  copy  was  sent  to  the  capitals  where  the  States  had  repre- 

S.  Doc.  537,  59-1- — 30 


466  Newport  to  York  town,  1781 

sentatives.     ROCHAMBEAU  at  the   same  time  transmitted   his 
own  official  story  of  the  consummated  undertaking. 

When  the  tidings  reached  Paris  the  city  was  instantly  ablaze. 
The  King  ordered  a  triumphal  Te  Deum  by  the  choir  of  the 
Metropolitan,  to  which  the  court,  the  nobility,  and  all  Paris,  so 
far  as  could  be  accommodated  within  or  without,  repaired  to 
celebrate  ' '  the  great  victory  by  land  and  sea  over  the  English 
by  the  armies  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty  wTith  those  of 
General  Washington." 

' '  SPECIAL'  '  TO  THE  MERCURY 

The  Mercury  of  France  made  the  following  report  of  the 
arrival  at  Versailles  of  the  official  account  of  the  siege  and 
capitulation  of  Yorktown: 

The  Duke  de  Lauzun  arrived  on  the  frigate  La  Surveillante ,  commanded 
by  M.  de  Cillart.  M.  Duplessis  Pascaut,  captain  of  the  vessel  V Intrepiede, 
which  was  burned  in  the  roadstead  of  the  cape,  was  on  the  same  frigate 
and  brought  the  dispatches  of  Count  de  Grasse.  La  Surveillante  also 
brought  Lord  Rawdon  (the  brother  of  Lord  Cornwallis,  and  major-general 
of  the  English  army,  and  his  wife).  The  two  last  were  not  delayed  at 
Brest.  They  were  allowed  to  depart  at  once  for  England. 

M.  de  Lauzun  left  Chesapeake  Bay  on  the  24th  of  October,  and  was 
but  twenty-four  days  on  the  voyage  to  Brest,  where  the.  vessel  dropped 
anchor  on  the  evening  of  I5th  of  November.  The  frigate  VAmazone, 
which  bore  M.  de  Charlus,  son  of  the  minister  of  marine;  M.  de  Deux- 
Ponts,  colonel  of  the  regiment  Royal  Deux-Ponts,  made  the  voyage  in 
about  the  same  time.  M.  le  Due  de  Lauzun  was  graciously  received  by 
His  Majesty.  The  tetter  of  M.  le  Comte  ROCHAMBEAU  to  the  King,  con 
veyed  the  following  information. 

"The  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  decided  to  attack  the  redoubt  in  order 
to  promptly  terminate  the  siege,  which  should  not  be  prolonged  into  the 
winter.  M.  le  de  Baron  de  Viomenil  distinguished  himself  on  this  occa 
sion.  Also  M.  de  Deux-Ponts,  colonel  en  second  of  the  Regiment  Royal 
Deux-Ponts,  who  having  mounted  first  on  the  intrenchments,  extended  his 
hand  to  a  grenadier  in  order  to  assist  him  to  follow.  Having  seen  the 
grenadier  fall  dead,  withdrew  his  hand  and  presented  it  with  great  cool 
ness  to  a  second.  The  Americans  were  animated  in  their  attack  by  the 
success  of  the  French,  which  they  saw  by  some  signal  upon  which  they 
had  agreed.  The  grenadiers  De  Gatinais  and  those  of  Royal  Deux-Ponts 
were  the  first  to  enter  the  redoubt.  They  were  much  astonished  to  find 
there  M.  de  Vicomte  de  Damas,  who  had  already  entered.  He  made  this 


Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781  467 

• 

attack,  unknown  to  the  general,  to  whom  he  was  aid-de-camp.  It  was 
the  artillery  and  the  bombs  which  reduced  Cornwallis,  and  all  were  so  dis 
posed  by  an  officer  of  engineers  that  he  might  have  demanded  a  capitula 
tion  on  the  i yth,  because  the  day  after  they  would  be  able  to  make  the 
assault.  They  claim,  however,  that  Cornwallis  did  not  surrender  because 
he  was  defeated,  but  on  account  of  lack  of  munitions  of  war,  having  neither 
shot  nor  powder.  He  had  at  first  asked  a  suspension  of  hostilities  for 
twenty-four  hours,  which  was  refused.  He  held  on.  Then  followed  a 
cannonade  from  80  guns,  lasting  the  entire  day  of  the  i6th.  At  length  he 
was  forced  to  ask  for  an  armistice  the  next  day. 

The  talents  and  personal  qualities  of  this  general  have  obtained  for  him 
a  capitulation  sufficiently  honorable.  It  would  have  been  more  so  if  Gen 
eral  Washington  and  Marquis  de  Lafayette  had  not  been  influenced  by  the 
rigor  put  upon  the  capitulation  of  Charleston. 

It  is  reported  that  the  allied  armies  lost  about  500  men  during  the  siege. 
The  loss  is  small  considering  the  many  benefits  of  the  result.  The  only 
officer  of  artillery  killed  was  M.  de  la  Loges;  the  other  superior  officers 
known  to  have  been  wounded  slightly  are  M.  le  Comte  de  Deux-Ponts  and 
MM.  de  Dillon.  The  Chevalier  de  Lameth,  nephew  of  M.  le  marechal 
de  Broglie,  aide  mare'chal-general  des  logis  is  the  most  seriously  wounded, 
he  having  the  knee  pan  and  one  of  his  thighs  fractured.  They  hope  to  be 
able  to  save  him. 

That  which  contributed  most  to  the  success  of  this  grand  enterprise 
without  contradiction  was  the  soldierly  ability  of  the  Marquis  de  Lafay 
ette.  It  was  he  who  followed  Cornwallis  step  by  step,  who  harrassed  him 
without  cessation,  who  shut  him  up  in  York,  and  prepared  his  downfall. 
The  Americans  as  well  as  the  French,  and  even  the  enemy,  are  loud  in 
eulogy  of  this  general,  who  is  yet  very  young.  All  his  movements  have 
shown  the  genius  of  a  warrior.  He  is  also  admired  for  the  gentleness 
and  simplicity  of  his  manners,  his  calmness  united  with  judgment. 

Lord  Cornwallis,  satisfied  with  the  great  qualities  of  his  enemy,  asked 
at  different  times  to  treat  with  him  and  he  would  surrender  his  army  to 
him  alone.  The  modest  soldier  always  refused,  and  referred  him  to  Wash 
ington,  his  general. 

The  condition  of  the  garrison  of  York  at  the  time  of  the  capitulation 
was:  Two  colonels,  8  lieutenant-colonels,  i  r  majors,  25  captains,  89  lieuten 
ants,  36  ensigns,  12  adjutants,  20  quartermasters,  10  surgeons,  22  aids,  2 
chaplains,  295  sergeants,  121  drummers,  3,295  soldiers.  Sick:  Ninety 
sergeants,  44  drummers,  1,741  soldiers — in  all  5,823,  not  including  the 
garrison  of  Gloucester,  forming  with  the  garrison  of  York  and  the 
sailors  about  7,500  men. 

There  were  22  flags,  170  cannon  of  all  calibers,  of  which  75  were  bronze, 
8  mortars,  and  45  vessels  captured;  the  Charon,  of  50  guns,  burned;  the 
Guadeloupe,  of  24,  sunk,  and  the  Iris  and  Richmont,  both  of  32  guns, 
captured. 


468  Newport  to  Yorktown,  1781 

IN"  ENGLAND 

The  crushing  intelligence  was  not  long  in  reaching  Windsor. 
The  winds  of  the  West  were  as  impatient  of  distance  as  the 
tidings  they  bore.  The  King  was  thrown  into  a  delirium  of 
dismay  and  Parliament  into  convulsions  of  crimination  and 
recrimination.  Such  acerbity  of  speech  under  the  rules  of 
order  and  the  amenities  of  debate  was  never  known  even  on 
the  worst  occasions  of  disaster  on  land  or  sea  in  the  old  con 
tinent.  It  had  a  deeper  significance  than  victory  for  the 
Americans;  there  was  retribution  in  it.  It  was  the  States 
triumphant,  France  avenged. 


AFTER  YORKTOWN 

WILL1AMSBURG,  BOSTON,  ANNAPOLIS,  WILMINGTON, 
1781-1783 


CLOSING   SCENES   AND    PARTING   WORDS 

True  to  the  vigorous  instincts  of  military  genius,  Washing 
ton  saw  his  opportunity  and  proposed  to  let  no  means  pass  to 
put  an  end  to  British  occupation  in  any  part  of  the  south.  . 

Accordingly  he  turned  his  attention  to  Wilmington  and 
Charleston,  the  two  chief  seaports  of  the  Carolinas,  still  in 
possession  of  the  enemy,  the  interior  having  been  wrested  from 
the  invader  by  the  skillful  tactical  maneuvers  and  blows  of 
Greene. 

Without  wasting  a  moment  in  glorification,  the  general  in 
chief  addressed  Comte  de  Grasse  a  communication  (dated  Oc 
tober  20),  conveying  his  own  ideas  as  to  future  military  move 
ments,  expressing  his  wish  to  know  his  plans  with  regard  to 
the  naval  forces  of  France  under  his  command,  and  asking 
cooperation  in  certain  military  operations  calculated  to  bring 
the  war  to  an  immediate  close. 

DE    GRASSE    URGED   TO   PARTICIPATE 

"The  surrender  of  York,"  he  writes,  "from  which  so  great 
glory  and  advantage  are^detived  to  the  allies,  and  the  honor  of 
which  belongs  to  your  excellency,  has  greatly  anticipated  our 
most  sanguine  expectations.  Certain  of  this  event  under  your 
auspices,  though  unable  to  determine  the  time,  I  solicited  your 
attention,  in  the  first  conference  with  which  you  honored  me, 
to  ulterior  objects  of  decisive  importance  to  the  common  cause. 

469 


470  After  Yorktown 

Although  your  answer  on  that  occasion  was  unfavorable  to  my 
wishes,  the  unexpected  promptness  with  which  our  operations 
here  have  been  conducted  to  their  final  success  having  gained 
us  time,  the  defect  of  which  was  one  of  your  principal  objec 
tions,  the  conviction  of  the  most  extensive  and  happy  conse 
quences  engages  me  to  renew  my  representation. 

"Charleston,  the  principal  maritime  port  of  the  British  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  continent,  *  *  *  is  open  to  a  com 
bined  attack  and  might  be  carried  with  as  much  certainty  as 
the  place  which  has  just  surrendered.  This  capture  would 
destroy  the  last  hope  which  induces  the  enemy  to  continue  the 
war;  for,  having  experienced  the  impracticability  of  recovering 
the  populous  northern  States,  they  have  determined  to  comfine 
themselves  to  the  defensive  in  that  quarter  and  present  a  most 
vigorous  offensive  at  the  southward.  *  *  *  Their  general 
naval  superiority  previous  to  your  arrival  gave  them  decisive 
advantages." 

SUCCESS   DEPENDENT   UPON   FRENCH    COOPERATION 

t  <  *  *  *  ft  wm  depend  upon  your  excellency,  therefore,  to 
terminate  the  war  and  enable  the  allies  to  dictate  the  law  in  the 
treaty.  A  campaign  so  glorious  and  so  fertile  in  consequences 
could  be  reserved  only  for  the  Count  de  Grasse.  It  rarely 
happens  that  such  a  combination  of  means  as  are  in  our  hands 
at  present  can  be  seasonably  obtained  by  the  most  strenuous 
human  exertions — a  decisively  superior  fleet,  the  fortune  and 
talents  of  whose  commander  overawe  all  the  naval  force  that 
the  most  strenuous  efforts  of  the  enemy  have  been  able  to  collect, 
an  army  flushed  with  success,  demanding  only  to  be  conducted 
to  new  attacks.  *  *  *» 

REDUCTION   OF   WILMINGTON   PROPOSED 

' '  If  upon  entering  into  the  detail  of  this  expedition  your  ex 
cellency  should  determine  it  impracticable,  there  is  an  object 
which,  though  subordinate  to  that  above  mentioned,  is  of  capital 
importance  to  our  southern  operations  and  may  be  effected  at 


After  York  town  471 

infinitely  less  expense — I  mean  the  enemy's  post  at  Wilmington, 
in  North  Carolina.  Circumstances  require  that  I  should  at  this 
period  reenforce  the  southern  army  under  General  Greene. 
This  reenforcement  transported  by  sea  under  your  convoy 
would  enable  us  to  carry  the  post  in  question  with  very  little 
difficulty  and  would  wrest  from  the  British  a  point  of  support 
in  North  Carolina  which  is  attended  with  the  most  dangerous 
consequences  to  us  and  would  liberate  another  State.  This 
object  would  require  nothing  more  than  the  convoy  of  your  fleet 
to  the  point  of  operation  and  the  protection  of  the  debarkation. 
"I  entreat  your  excellency's  attention  to  the  points  which  I 
have  the  honor  of  laying  before  you,  and  that  you  will  be  pleased 
at  the  same  time  to  inform  me  what  are  your  dispositions  for  a 
maritime  force  to  be  left  on  the  American  station." 

ON  THE  "VILLE  DE  PARIS" 

The  next  day  the  general  in  chief  took  occasion  to  go  in 
person  on  board  the  Ville  de  Paris  to  extend  the  compliments  of 
the  occasion,  to  personally  express  his  thanks  for  the  services 
of  the  fleet  in  the  events  recently  closed,  and  to  impress  upon 
De  Grasse  the  importance  of  the  propositions  he  had  submitted 
in  writing. 

The  same  evening  General  Washington  returned  ashore 
without  having  accomplished  his  purpose. 

ORDERS    IN   CONFLICT 

The  French  admiral  declined,  as  his  orders  and  obligations  in 
the  Antilles  rendered  it  impossible  to  remain  on  the  coast  dur 
ing  the  time  required  for  the  operation.  De  la  Luzerne,  the 
French  minister  at  Philadelphia,  was  favorably  inclined  and  tried 
his  persuasive  powers,  but  De  Grasse  was  fearful  of  unexpected 
and  unavoidable  detentions.  For  the  same  reason  he  was  obliged 
to  refrain  from  transporting  troops  to  the  assistance  of  Greene  in 
the  Carolinas,  but  did  consent,  notwithstanding  he  had  pre 
viously  given  notice  he  could  not  safely  delay  after  November 
i ,  to  remain  a  few  days  over  that  time  in  order  to  cover  the  trans 
portation  of  the  eastern  troops  and  ordnance  to  the  Head  of  Elk. 


472  After  York  town 

However,  not  entirely  without  hope  of  success,  Lafayette,  to 
whom  was  promised  command  of  the  expedition  if  De  Grasse 's 
cooperation  to  convoy  were  secured,  remained  aboard  the  flag 
ship  for  the  continued  exercise  of  his  own  efforts. 

The  Marquis  occupied  two  days  in  these  supplementary 
arguments,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  returned  ashore. 

DE  GRASSE 's  POSITION  EXPLAINED 

The  logic  of  the  situation  is  better  put  forth  in  .the  Marquis's 
own  report  to  Washington,  as  it  gives  the  phases  of  phrasing 
and  shades  of  interpretation  due  to  De  Grasse  in  view  of  the 
complications  of  the  moment  and  his  continued  devotion  and 
proposed  prospective  services  to  the  warlike  interests  of  the 
States.  In  his  report  Lafayette  says: 

The  Comte  de  Grasse  would  be  happy  to  be  able  to  make  the  expedition 
to  Charleston,  all  the  advantages  of  which  he  feels;  but  the  orders  of  his 
court,  ulterior  projects,  and  his  engagements  with  the  Spaniards,  render  it 
impossible  to  remain  here  the  necessary  time  for  this  operation.  His  wish 
to  serve  the  United  States  is  such  that  he  desires  to  enter  into  engagements 
for  cooperation  during  the  next  campaign,  as  far  as  the  plans  of  the  court 
will  permit.  The  expedition  to  Wilmington  requiring  less  time,  the  Comte 
de  Grasse  would  undertake  to  conduct  to  that  -place  a  detachment  of  2,000 
Americans.  *  *  It  will  be  necessary  immediately  to  have  pilots,  per 

sons  well  acquainted  with  the  country,  with  whom  the  Comte  de  Grasse 
would  desire  to  converse  as  soon  as  possible  in  order  to  give  his  answer 
definitely.  *  *  *  The  Comte  de  Grasse  gives  us  leave  to  make  use  of 
the  vessels  in  York  River.  *  *  If  after  having  seen  the  persons  ac 

quainted  with  the  coast,  the  Comte  de  Grasse  thinks  he  shall  be  able  to 
take  the  troops  on  board  his  line  of  battle  ships  and  debark  them  without 
danger  then  it  will  be  useless  to  take  the  transports.  If  frigates  can  run 
into  a  convenient  place,  then  the  troops  will  be  embarked  on  board  frigates. 
The  day  of  departure  is  to  be  the  ist  of  November  or,  if  possible,  sooner. 

DISPOSITION   OF   THE    PRISONERS 

Two  days  after  the  surrender,  the  British  prisoners  under 
escort  of  Virginia  militia,  were  marched  via  Williamsburg,  Fred- 
ericksburg,  Ashbys  Gap,  and  Shenandoah  Valley  to  Winchester, 
Va.,  Fort  Frederick,  and  Fredericktown,  Md.,  where  they  were 
kept  for  a  time  in  a  prison  camp.  Owing  to  constant  quarrels 


After  York  town  473 

with  their  militia  keepers  the  prisoners  were  soon  conducted  to 
Lancaster,  Pa. ,  and  put  in  prison  quarters  under  a  Continental 
guard. 

CARRY   THE   NEWS   TO   CIJNTON 

The  sloop  of  war  Bonetta  under  the  capitulations  was  assigned 
to  carry  an  aide  with  dispatches  from  Earl  Cornwallis  to  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  officially  advising  him  of  the  loss  of  his  army, 
after  which  the  vessel  was  to  be  turned  over  to  Comte  de 
Grasse.  Cornwallis  was  placed  under  parole  and  departed  for 
New  York. 

DISPOSITION   OF   THK   AMERICAN   FORCES 

By  October  26  Washington,  considering  the  operations  against 
the  enemy  in  Virginia  concluded,  determined  upon  the  future 
disposition  of  the  allied  army  of  Yorktown.  The  Pennsylvania, 
Maryland,  and  Virginia  Continental  troops  were  to  be  sent  as  a 
reenforcement  to  General  Greene  in  the  Carolinas.  With  the 
troops  of  the  States  to  the  northward  of  Pennsylvania,  he 
proposed  to  return  to  his  former  position  on  North  River. 

The  troops  for  the  north  under  General  Lincoln  were  put  on 
board  November  2  and  conveyed  by  water  to  the  Head  of  Elk, 
whence  they  moved  overland  by  easy  stages  and  were  distributed 
in  Pennsylvania  (Lancaster),  New  Jersey  (Morristown),  and 
New  York  (North  River)  and  Pompton. 

The  retained  division,  consisting  of  the  Wayne  (Pennsylvania) 
and  Gist  (Maryland)  brigades,  2,000  men  under  Marquis  de 
Lafayette;  with  orders  for  South  Carolina,  to  take  Wilmington, 
N.  C.,  on  the  way,  were  to  be  conveyed  by  Comte  de  Grasse  and 
supported  long  enough  to  accomplish  the  carrying  of  Wilmington 
by  a  "coup  de  main,"  thence  the  troops  to  join  General  Greene, 
Preparations  were  at  once  begun  for  embarkation. 

AS   ESCORT   ONLY 

On  the  very  day  Washington  was  inditing  his  letter  to  the 
President  of  Congress  covering  what  has  been  said,  De  Grasse 
was  engaged  in  a  similar  conveyance  of  conclusions  to  Lafay 
ette,  giving  his  reasons  for  a  finality  as  to  "the  impossibility  of 


474  After  York  town 

undertaking  to  transport  troops,  baggage,  artillery,  and  ammu 
nition."  There  was  fixity  in  his  obligations  as  to  place,  date, 
and  destination.  The  passage  to  Cape  Fear  might  take  two  and 
it  might  take  more  than  fifteen  days,  the  winds  deciding  in  both 
cases.  There  might  be  other  delays  exposing  him  to  censure. 
An  obstinate  succession  of  southerly  winds  might  oblige  him 
to  repair  to  his  rendezvous,  carrying  with  him  the  troops  on 
board,  which  would  be  more  useful  on  the  Continent  than  to  the 
islands.  Therefore,  all- he  was  safe  in  promising  was,  to  escort 
as  well  as  he  could  the  vessels  having  the  troops  on  board. 
But  in  every  event  it  would  be  impossible  to  remain  on  the 
coast  beyond  the  8th  of  November,  which  delay  would  have  to 
be  repaired  by  the  greatest  activity  on  his  part. 

TROUBLE  FROM  ANOTHER  QUARTER 

These  preliminaries  to  a  renewal  of  offensive  war  were  of  a 
sudden  completely  upset  by  news  from  another  quarter.  The 
vigilant  Forman,  who  from  the  New  Jersey  highlands  kept  an 
eye  on  the  movements  of  the  British  ships  in  New  York  Harbor, 
on  a  bright  morning  late  in  October  was  astounded  to  see  90 
sail,  26  of  them  ships  of  the  line  putting  to  sea  and  pointing 
southward,  presumably  bound  for  the  Chesapeake.  He  lost  no 
time  in  dispatching  an  express  to  apprise  Washington  of  the 
alarming  movement. 

It  was  October  24,  five  days  after  the  surrender,  when  the 
express  arrived.  The  general  in  chief  hastily  dispatched  a 
cutter  to  De  Grasse,  notifying  him  of  what  was  in  the  wind. 
Arrangements  were  made  to  withdraw  the  transports  from  the 
mouth  of  the  James  and  send  them  to  the  Head  of  Elk,  out  of 
reach. 

In  view  of  the  threatening  complications  De  Grasse  further 
modified  his  offer  respecting  transportation  of  Lafayette  and  his 
expeditionary  corps  for  Wilmington,  and  again  insisted  he 
could  not  under  any  circumstances  delay  after  November  8. 
This  determination  was  promptly  communicated  to  Lafayette, 
who  had  his  force  ready  for  immediate  embarkation.  The  dis 
appointing  information  was  forwarded  to  Washington. 


After  Yorktown  475 

NARROW    ESCAPE 

The  Andromaque,  'frigate,  sailed  the  same  day  (26th), 
with  Count  William  de  Deux-Ponts  on  board  as  special  envoy  to 
secure  further  support  from  France,  in  order  to  drive  home  the 
advantage  already  gained.  Hardly  had  she  left  her  anchorage 
at  the  Middle  Ground  Banks  when  signals  from  the  Hermion 
and  Concorde,  cruising  off  Cape  Henry,  gave  the  alarm.  The 
Andromaque  also  had  a  sight  in  time  to  put  back  to  the  vmouth 
of  the  James. 

On  the  2yth  De  Grasse  informed  Washington  of  the  presence 
of  the  British  fleet  of  36  vessels,  25  of  the  line,  in  the  offing. 
The  admiral  promptly  signaled  his  entire  force  aboard  for 
action,  but  delay  in  the  execution  of  his  orders  made  it  impos 
sible  to  move  out  promptly  to  meet  the  enemy. 

BRITISH  FLEET  OFF  THE  CAPES 

The  next  day  the  entire  hostile  fleet  appeared  off  the  capes, 
but  the  wind  being  unfavorable  De  Grasse  was  unable  to  leave 
his  anchorage.  The  same  evening  the  enemy's  ships  disap 
peared.  It  was  supposed  the  coast  was  again  clear.  Accord 
ingly,  on  the  ist  day  of  November,  the  Andromaque,  with 
Comte  William  aboard,  tried  it  again,  with  express  order  from 
De  Grasse  to  decline  a  combat.  The  records  of  the  voyage 
show  on  November  2  the  frigate  was  vigorously  chased,  but, 
due  to  excellent  handling  and  fine  sailing  power  and  under 
cover  of  the  night,  the  Frenchmen  eluded  the,  enemy,  and 
reached  France  in  safety  on  the  2oth,  or  nineteenth  day  out — 
a  quicker  voyage  than  made  by  La  Surveillante. 

On  the  evening  of  the  day  of  the  departure  of  the  Andro 
maque  the  English  were  again  in  sight,  but  the  movement 'it 
was  now  supposed  meant  reinforcement  of  Charleston  and  no 
attack  on  De  Grasse. 


476  After  Yorktown 

REENFORCEMENTS   FOR   GREENE 

On  the  same  day  the  brigades  of  Wayne  and  Gist,  under 
command  of  General  St.  Clair,  started  on  their  march  by  land 
to  reenforce  General  Greene.  General  Lafayette's  command 
of  the  expedition,  as  we  have  seen,  was  contingent  upon  the 
troops  going  by  water  convoyed  by  the  French  fleet. 

A  SPRING   CAMPAIGN  SUGGESTED 

Before  the  departure  of  the  French  admiral,  General  Washing 
ton,  in  a  letter  (October  28-),  made  suggestions  as  to  the  spring 
campaign,  wishing  his  return  in  May  with  a  superior  force,  and 
fixing  the  rendezvous  on  the  Chesapeake,  as  from  there  the 
combined  fleet  and  armies  could  move  either  against  Charleston 
or  New  York. 

In  this  communication  the  general  presented  the  subject  in 
its  strongest  light,  recognizing  the  necessity  of  the  cooperation 
of  the  fleet  and  at  the  same  time  appealed  to  the  pride  of  its 
admiral  as  having  the  deciding  voice: 

You  will  have  observed  that  whatever  efforts  are  made  by  the  land 
armies  the  navy  must  have  the  casting  vote  in  the  present  contest.  The 
Court  of  France  are  convinced  of  it,  and  have  declared  their  resolve  to 
give  this  indispensable  succor.  The  triumphant  manner  in  which  your 
excellency  has  maintained  the  mastery  of  the  American  seas  and  the  glory 
of  the  French  flag  leave  both  nations  to  look  upon  you  as  the  arbiter  of 
the  war. 

DE    GRASSE   OFF   FOR   THE   ANTILLES 

The  count,  in  reply,  assured  Washington  of  his  purpose  to 
communicate  his  propositions  to  the  French  Court,  feeling  con 
fident  that  everything  would  be  done  to  promote  his  views  and 
establish  American  liberty. 

FAREWELL   DE    GRASSE. 

With  this  valedictory  Saint-Simon  embarked  his  gallant  men 
of  Agenois,  Gatinais,  and  Touraine  on  the  first  days  of  Novem 
ber.  On  the  4th  De  Grasse  with  his  entire  fleet,  land  force,  and 
equipment  sailed  out  of  the  Chesapeake  headed  for  the  West 


After  York  town  477 

Indies.  He  carried  with  him  as  reminders  of  his  American 
campaign  two  fine  specimens  of  Virginia  thoroughbreds,  pre 
sented  to  him  by  Washington  from  his  Mount  Vernon  stud. 

The  captured  British  frigate  Romulus  and  three  others  were 
left  to  protect  the  stores  on  the  York  and  James  rivers  and  to 
cover  their  transportation  to  the  Head  of  Elk. 

WASHINGTON  RETURNS  NORTH 

It  was  not  until  the  day  after  (November  5)  the  sailing  of  De 
Grasse  and  three  days  after  the  shipment  of  his  northern 
troops  to  Head  of  Elk,  having  started  the  detachment  south 
ward,  that  Washington  left  the  scene  of  the  climax  to  his 
military  career.  Bidding  farewell  for  a  time  to  his  French 
companion  in  arms  he  proceeded  with  his  "Life  Guard," 
Lafayette,  Duportail,  and  a  small  party  by  way  of  Mount 
Vernon  (i5th),  Alexandria  (2oth),  Annapolis  (22d),  and  Phila 
delphia  (27th),  where  he  passed  the  winter,  arriving  at  his 
camp  at  Morristown  toward  the  last  days  of  March,  1782. 

ROCHAMBEAU    REMAINS    IN    VIRGINIA 

ROCHAMBEAU  remained  in  charge  of  York  peninsula.  His 
first  duty  was  the  destruction  of  the  defenses  of  the  traitor 
Arnold  at  Portsmouth.  The  next  the  demolition  of  the  out 
lying  redoubts  and  parallels  of  York  and  repair  of  the  defenses 
of  the  town.  Those  of  Gloucester  were  leveled  to  the  ground. 
This  was  accomplished  between  the  1 5th  and  1 8th  of  November. 

The  French  corps  a  few  days  later  moved  to  Williamsburg, 
Va. ,  where  the  army  went  into  winter  quarters.  ROCHAMBEAU 
established  his  headquarters  at  Newport,  Va.,  ready  to  renew 
active  operations  in  the  south  if  needed.  The  loss  of  the  army 
of  Cornwallis,  however,  was  regarded  on  both  continents  as 
sealing  the  fate  of  the  British  dominion  in  the  former  colonies 
of  North  America. 

The  winter  was  unusually  cold  for  this  latitude,  officers  in 
their  journals  recording  that  ink  and  wine,  two  indispensable 
essentials  to  winter  quarters,  froze  in  their  rooms. 


478  After  Yorktown 

NEWS   AND   CASH    FROM    FRANCE 

On  the  2d  of  January,  1782,  the  frigate  La  Sibylle  arrived 
from  France  with  dispatches  and  2,000,000  livres  in  specie. 
The  latter  was  a  boon,  not  so  much  to  the  French  army  as  to 
the  people  to  whom  gold  coin  had  long  been  a  stranger.  The 
Sibylle  also  brought  the  first  news  of  the  safe  arrival  of  the 
Surveillante  with  Lauzuii  and  the  glad  tidings  of  victory,  and 
the  dispatches  to  the  King,  and  also  the  arrival  of  the  Andro- 
maque.  It  also  bore  a  special  letter  from  the  King  to 
ROCHAMBEAU  to  order  a  Te  Deum  sung  in  the  regiments, 
whether  in  town  or  camp. 

ROCHAMBEAU    CONSTANTLY    IN   TOUCH 

From  his  camp  at  Williamsburg  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU 
maintained  frequent  correspondence,  by  express,  with  Washing 
ton  at  Philadelphia.  In  February,  he  announced,  in  response  to 
a  request  from  General  Greene,  before  Charleston,  the  advance, 
as  far  as  the  Roanoke,  on  the  frontiers  of  Carolina. 

A    FRENCH    ADVANCE 

A  detachment  of  the  French  army  under  General  de  Choisy, 
including  Lauzun's  legion,  the  duke  himself,  however,  having 
returned  to  Europe,  was  sent  with  the  intention  of  reenforcing 
General  Greene.  The  movement  was  stopped  at  Charlotte 
Court-House,  about  80  miles  southwest  of  Richmond,  at  Wash 
ington's  suggestion,  as  news  brought  to  him  indicated  an  early 
evacuation  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  by  the  British. 

He  counseled  the  move  as  timely,  as  it  might  perplex  the 
enemy  with  the  inference  that  it  was  the  advance  of  a  move 
ment  of  the  entire  French  army  as  soon  as  the  weather 
would  admit.  The  chief,  however,  was  not  apprehensive  of 
operations  of  the  enemy  very  far  away  from  the  coast  toward 
the  interior  after  the  many  severe  blows  he  had  received  of  late. 

About  the  same  time  information  was  received  that  the  British 
ministry  had  determined  upon  New  York  as  the  only  post  which 
would  be  retained. 


After  Yorktown  479 

Washington  conveyed,  from  an  address  lately  received  from 
the  Senate  of  Virginia,  their  desire  that  he  should  make  their 
most  grateful  acknowledgment  to  His  Excellency  and  to  the 
officers  and  men  under  his  command  for  their  eminent  services. 
They  also  wished  him  to  bring  to  his  notice  the  pleasure  it  gave 
them  ' '  to  observe  the  harmony  which  subsists  between  the  in 
habitants  of  the  State  and  their  generous  allies. ' ' 

The  chief  mentioned  the  pleasure  it  would  give  him  to  have 
the  Count  come  to  Philadelphia  any  time  it  became  necessary. 
He  would  prefer  to  have  him  come  to  Mount  Vernon,  which 
would  give  him  the  additional  pleasure  of  entertaining  him  at 
his  own  house,  but  for  the  inadvisability  of  going  so  far  from 
the  army  at  the  opening  of  the  campaign. 

DE   LA   LUZERNE    GUEST   AT   HEADQUARTERS 

On  the  25th  of  the  .same  month  Chevelier  de  la  L,uzerne  vis 
ited  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  at  his  headquarters.  His  pres 
ence  among  his  countrymen  was  the  occasion  of  much  camp 
hospitality  and  social  enjoyment  among  the  distinguished  fami 
lies  of  the  old  Virginia  capital. 

In  giving  an  account  of  the  journey  from  Philadelphia  to 
Williamsburg,  De  Fersen  speaks  of  it  as  charming,  referring 
particularly  to  the  canteens  the  Minister  de  la  Luzerne  had 
brought  with  him,  which  were  well  supplied  with  pates,  hams, 
wine,  and  bread.  The  country,  he  mentions,  only  afforded  salt 
food,  bread,  and  cakes  of  Indian  corn  slightly  roasted  before  a 
fire.  The  native  drink,  ' '  thum, ' '  consisted  of  sugar  and  brandy 
mixed  with  water,  and  was  called  "grog." 

On  March  27  the  Chevelier,  ROCHAMBEAU,  and  Fersen  made 
a  trip  to  the  camp  at  Portsmouth. 

AN    EYE    ON    NEW    YORK 

After  returning  to  his  camp  on  the  Hudson  in  March,  Wash 
ington  renewed  his  vigilant  observation  of  conditions  in  New 
York.  In  event  of  further  assistance  coming  from  France, 
especially  in  the  form  of  superiority  on  the  water,  it  was  his 
purpose  to  make  the  attempt  in  conjunction  with  ROCHAMBEAU. 


480  After  York  town 

IMPRESSIONS   AT  VERSAILLES 

There  being  no  evident  prospects  of  further  aggressive  move 
ments  on  the  part  of  the  British,  the  French  officers  continued 
to  avail  themselves  of  the  lull  for  a  visit  to  France.  These 
gentlemen  were  profuse  in  their  admiration  of  Washington  in 
their  intercourse  with  the  Court  of  Versailles  and  among  the 
French  people. 

FRENCH  TESTIMONIALS  OF  ADMIRATION 

In  a  letter  from  De  la  Luzerne  to  Washington,  April  18,  the 
minister  observed : 

Their  testimony  can  add  nothing  to  the  universal  opinion  respecting 
the  great  services  which  you  have  rendered  to  your  country;  but  to  the 
esteem  and  admiration  of  the  French  will  henceforth  be  added  a  senti 
ment  of  affection  and  attachment,  which  is  a  just  return  for  the  attentions 
our  officers  have  received  from  you  and  for  the  progress  they  have  made 
in  their  profession  by  serving  under  your  orders. 

WASHINGTON   APPRECIATES 

To  this  Washington  replied  from  his  headquarters  at  New- 
burgh,  April  28,  in  a  letter  on  the  military  situation  generally, 
which  he  closed  by  thanking  the  chevalier  for  his  communica 
tion  concerning  the  opinion  entertained  of  his  conduct  by  the 
court  and  nation  of  France,  and  to  acknowledge  his  "obliga 
tions  to  those  officers  who  have  inspired  these  sentiments. ' ' 

To  stand  well  in  the  eyes  of  a  nation  which  I  view  as  one  of  the  first  in 
the  world  and  in  the  opinion  of  a  monarch  whom  I  consider  as  the  sup 
porter  of  the  rights  of  humanity,  and  to  whom  I  am  personally  indebted 
for  the  command  he  has  been  pleased  to  honor  me  with,  is  highly  flatter 
ing  to  my  vanity;  at  the  same  time  it  has  a  first  place  to  all  my  gratitude. 

WHAT   FRANKLIN   LEARNED 

Doctor  Franklin  to  Mr.  Livingston,  secretary  of  foreign 
affairs,  contributed  similar  views  of  the  returning  officers,  of 
whom  he  wrote — 

who  have  returned  to  France  this  winter,  speak  of   our  people 
in  the  handsomest  and  kindest  manner,  and  there  is  a  strong  desire  in 


After  Yorktown  481 

many  of  the  young  nobleman  to  go  over  to  fight  for  us.  There  is  no  re 
straining  some  of  them,  and  several  changes  in  the  officers  of  their  army 
have  taken  place  in  consequence. 

CONTINENTAL    HONORS   TO    A    ROYAL    INFANT 

At  this  point  an  interesting  episode  in  the  routine  of  camp 
transpired  in  honor  of  the  French  allies.  On  May  28  the  com 
mander  in  chief,  in  general  orders,  was  "  happy  in  the  opportu 
nity  of  announcing  to  the  army  the  birth  of  a  Dauphin  of 
France,  and  desirous  of  giving  a  general  occasion  for  testifying 
the  satisfaction  which  he  is  convinced  will  pervade  the  breast 
of  every  American  officer  and  soldier  in  the  communication  of 
an  event  so  highly  interesting  to  a  monarch  and  nation  who 
have  given  such  distinguished  proofs  of  their  attachment,  is 
pleased  to  order  the  feu  de  joie  on  Thursday  next." 

LONG    LIVE   THE    DAUPHIN 

On  May  31,  1782,  the  proposed  grand  fete  was  given  at  West 
Point  in  honor  of  the  birth  of  the  dauphin  of  France,  first  son 
of  Louis  XVI,  the  champion  of  independence,  and  his  Queen, 
Marie  Antoinette.  The  affair  took  place  under  an  arbor  about 
220  feet  in  length  and  80  feet  in  width,  supported  by  118  pillars 
constructed  for  the  occasion  of  materials  afforded  by  the  for 
ests  in  the  vicinity.  The  sides  and  covering  were  of  curiously 
interwoven  evergreens,  the  ends  being  open.  Each  pillar  was 
encircled  at  the  foot  by  muskets  with  fixed  bayonets,  held  in 
place  by  wreaths  of  evergreens  and  flowers. 

The  interior  was  festooned  and  further  adorned  with  garlands 
of  laurel,  spruce,  and  arbor  vitse.  There  were  also  a  number  of 
devices  emblematical  of  the  alliance,  mottoes  and  other  decora 
tions  suggestive  of  the  ties  between  the  States  and  France. 

To  add  to  the  eclat  of  the  display  the  entire  army  on  both 
sides  of  the  river  at  West  Point  was  paraded.  At  a  precon 
certed  signal  of  three  cannon  shots,  muskets  were  stacked,  while 
the  officers,  under  general  orders  of  May  29,  1782,  repaired  to 
West  Point  to  dine  with  the  general. 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 31 


482  After  Yorktown 

In  a  memorandum  appended  to  these  orders  the  commander 
in  chief  extended,  ''with  his  compliments,"  to  the  "officers' 
ladies  with  or  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  army,"  his  request  to 
"favor  him  with  their  company  at  dinner."  The  invitation 
was  extended  ' '  to  any  other  ladies  of  his  own  or  his  friends' 
acquaintance,  without  the  formality  of  a  particular  invitation." 

On  the  date  named  General  and  Mrs.  Washington  and  their 
friends,  which  included  civic  officers  of  the  State  and  their 
ladies,  assembled  at  headquarters,  and  having  embarked  on 
barges  gaily  decorated,  rowed  down  the  Hudson,  arriving  at 
West  Point  early  in  the  afternoon.  Other  distinguished  guests 
reached  there  about  the  same  time.  The  entire  company,  led 
by  General  and  Mrs.  Washington,  at  a  signal  of  three  cannon  dis 
charges,  repaired  to  the  grand  arbor,  passing  through  a  line  of 
artillery  drawn  up  in  honor  of  the  event.  It  is  recorded  over 
500  guests  were  present.  After  the  cloth  was  removed  13  appro 
priate  toasts  were  drunk  simultaneously  with  each  13  guns, 
drum  ruffles  being  given  in  salute. 

In  the  evening  the  arbor,  brilliantly  illuminated,  was  the  scene 
of  a  grand  ball,  opened  by  General  Washington  and  Mrs.  Knox 
in  a  minuet. 

A  feu  de  joi  of  cannon  and  musketry  from  the  whole  army 
resounded  in  the  darkness  from  the  surrounding  hills.  The 
troops  thrice  shouted  "  L,ong  live  the  dauphin,"  a  display  of 
fireworks  ending  the  celebration. 

ROYAI,    HONORS    FOR    FRENCHMEN    SERVING    IN    AMERICA 

The  Count  having  informed  Washington  of  the  pensions,  cross 
of  the  order  of  St.  Louis,  and  promotions  bestowed  upon  his 
meritorious  officers  serving  in  America,  drew  in  reply  an  assur 
ance  of  a  feeling  of — 

most  lively  interest  and  pleasure  in  every  event  which  bestows  honor  or 
emolument  on  such  deserving  characters.  The  favorable  mention  which 
the  King  is  pleased  to  make  of  me  demands  my  warmest  and  most  particu 
lar  acknowledgment.  This  honor  done  me  will  form  an  additional  tie  to 
the  gratitude  which  already  binds  me  to  the  person  and  interests  of  His 
Majesty. 


After  York  town  483 

CAMPAIGN    CONSIDERATIONS    EMPLOYMENT 

The  employment  of  the  French  army  after  joining  Washing 
ton's  forces  on  the  Hudson  was  now  under  consideration  by 
correspondence  between  the  two  generals.  ROCHAMBEAU  pro 
posed  some  strategic  maneuvering  before  starting  on  his  march. 
Washington,  however,  did  not  take  favorably  to  the  project,  as — 

it  would  be  performed  in  so  short  a  space  as  to  give  no  time  for  its  opera 
tion  before  the  deception  proposed  would  be  disclosed  . 

The  correspondence  of  Washington  with  the  Count,  so  far  as 
the  salutatory  went,  began  to  take  on  a  more  familiar  tone. 
Hitherto  it  was  "Sir"  down  to  May  5,  1782,  now  it  is  "My 
Dear  Count,"  June  24,  1782.  In  this  communication  the  chief 
expressed  himself  more  and  more  embarrassed  in  determining 
measures,  on  account  of.  no  receipt  of  advices  as  to  the  inten 
tions  of  the  Court  of  France.  If  naval  aid  was  to  be  sent  suffi 
ciently  powerful  and  in  time,  the  enterprise  against  New  York 
would  be  undertaken.  In  that  case  the  march  of  the  French 
troops  to  the  Hudson  should  be  immediate.  If  not,  Charleston 
was  considered  next  in  importance,  in  which  event  every  step 
northward  would  be  lost,  and  render  the  French  troops  unfit  to 
march  to  South  Carolina. 

STATES    LOYAI,   TO   FRANCE 

By  this  time  Clinton  had  been  relieved  at  New  York  and 
Carleton  substituted.  That  general,  taking  it  into  his  head 
that  it  was  the  opportune  time  to  clpse  up  the  American  busi 
ness  and  go  at  France  single  handed,  proposed  to  Congress  to 
recognize  the  independence  of  the  United  States  in  consider 
ation  of  the  renunciation  of  the  alliance  with  France. 

As  this  was  in  direct  violation  of  the  specific  terms  of  that 
convention  and  a  repudiation  of  the  very  essence  of  gratitude, 
Congress  spurned  the  suggestion  and  peremptorily  refused  to 
receive  the  persons  charged  with  the  negotiations. 


484 


After  Yorktown 


ROCHAMBEAU   ON   THE    MARCH    NORTHWARD 

In  view  of  the  situation  in  the  Antilles  as  to  France  and 
the  conditions  in  the  States  as  to  England  there  was  no  logical 
inference  of  much  in  the  way  of  initiative  by  either  of  those  pow 
ers.  The  climate  so  far  south  was  also  telling  on  the  French 
troops,  accordingly  ROCHAMBEAU  determined  to  move  north 
ward.  He  intimated  his  intention  to  General  Washington  and 
requested  an  interview  at  Philadelphia. 

On  June  23  the  first  division  of  the  French  army  under  De 
Chastellux  broke  camp  at  Williamsburg.  The  march,  owing  to 
the  intense  heat,  was  performed  by  easy  stages  at  night,  the 
day  being  devoted  to  rest. 

The  remaining  divisions  followed  at  short  intervals.  The 
fourth,  consisting  of  the  regiment  Saintonge  and  a  detachment 
of  artillery  under  Comte  de  Custine,  bringing  up  the  rear  on 
July  4. 

MRS.    WASHINGTON-  ENTERTAINS    THE    FRENCH    OFFICERS 

On  July  19,  this  division  having  made  a  halt  at  Colchester, 
Va.,  not  far  from  Mount  Vernon,  Mrs.  Washington  extended 
invitations  to  Comte  de  Custine  and  nine  officers  of  his  com 
mand  to  dine.  In  the  morning  the  gallant  count  surprised  the 
good  lady  by  sending  to  her  a  complete  set  of  china,  the  manu 
facture  of  his  own  factory  at  Pf alzburg,  Lorraine,  France.  Each 
piece  was  ornamented  with  the  monogram  and  arms  of  her 
husband. 

The  following  represents  the  camps  of  the  French  army 
under  ROCHAMBEAU  in  their  return  march  north  from  Williams- 
burg  to  Baltimore: 


VIRGINIA 


June  23,  1782,  Williamsburg. 
June  24,  1782,  Drinking  Spring. 
July  5,  1782,  Birds  Tavern. 
July  6,  1782,  Ravelaf  House. 


July  7,  1782,  New  Kent. 

July  8,  1782,  New  Castle  Sojourn. 

July  9,  1782,  Hanover  Town. 

July  n,  1782,  Hanover  Court-House 


After  Yorktown  485 


July  12,  1782,  Brunks  Bridge.  j  July  16,  1782,  Sojourn. 

July  13,  1782,  Bullen  Green  (Bowl-    July  17,  1782,  PeytonsTown. 
ing  Green).  |  July  18,  1782,  Dumfries. 


July    14,    1782,    12    miles    south    of 
Fredericksburg. 


July   15,    1782,   Fredericksburg  and 
Falmouth. 

MARYLAND 


July  19,  1782,  Colchester. 
July  20,  1782,  Alexandria. 


July  21,  1782,  Georgetown. 
July  22,  1782,  Bladensburg. 


July  26,  1782,  Spurier's  Tavern. 
July  27,  1782,  Baltimore. 


July  25,  1782,  Rose  Tavern. 

ROCHAMBKAU    CONFERS 

The  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBKAU  having  reached  Baltimore  with 
the  advance  of  his  army,  leaving  Major-General  Chevalier  de 
Chastellux  in  command,  departed  for  Philadelphia,  where  he 
was  joined  by  General  Washington  from  his  headquarters  at 
Newburgh  on  the  Hudson,  on  July  15. 

After  a  deliberation  of  several  days,  interspersed  with  many 
courtesies — ceremonial,  informal,  and  individual  on  the  part  of 
Congress,  the  Pennsylvania  officials,  and  distinguished  indi 
viduals — it  was  determined  to  concentrate  the  two  armies  on  the 
Hudson. 

THE    TWO    ARMIES    TO    CONCENTRATE 

As  a  preliminary  movement  Comte  de  Fersen  was  dispatched 
on  a  secret  mission  to  embark  stores  left  at  York  and  the  artil 
lery  left  at  West  Point,  8  leagues  above,  and  ship  them  to 
Baltimore.  As  soon  as  he  had  everything  moving  he-  reported 
to  ROCHAMBEAU,  who  with  his  army  was  then  at  that  city. 

SIGNS   OF    GREAT    BRITAIN    YIELDING 

The  resolutions  of  the  British  House  of  Commons  having  con 
fined  their  army  in  America  to  a  defensive  war  only,  and  other 
indications  pointing  to  a  pacification,  led  Comte  DE  ROCHAM 
BEAU  to  suggest  that  his  army  remain  at  Baltimore,  that  he  dis 
miss  his  wagon  train,  and  await  developments. 


486  After  York-town 

THE  CHIEF  SUSPICIOUS 

Washington  (August  16),  however,  did  not  take  the  same 
optimistic  view  of  the  situation,  regarding  the  alleged  negotia 
tions  as  a  possible  scheme  to  gain  time,  especially  as  there  had 
as  yet  been  no  offers  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  for  a  general 
cessation  of  hostilities. 

The  correctness  of  this  position  was  sustained  by  a  letter  of 
De  la  lyUzerne  to  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil,  in  which  the  sug 
gestion  was  made  that  England  would  spare  nothing  to  make 
a  peace  with  the  United  States  and  then  turn  %all  her  efforts 
against  France.  The  minister  added  that  to  his  certain  knowl 
edge  the  States  would  never  agree  to  a  separate  peace,  but  only 
in  concert  with  France.  . 

BRITISH    CONCENTRATING   AT    NEW    YORK 

It  was  known  at  Washington's  headquarters  at  Newburgh;  and 
so  reported  to  ROCHAMBEAU,  that  the  British  garrison  at  Savan 
nah  had  been  withdrawn  to  New  York,  and  there  were  grounds 
for  belief  that  that  of  Charleston  would  be  in  the  near  future, 
in  which  event  a  considerable  force  might  be  detached  to  the 
West  Indies  for  operations  against  France  in  that  direction, 
unless  the  French  army  should  at  once  join  the  Americans  on 
the  Hudson  River  as  a  menace  to  New  York. 

LOOKING   OUT    FOR   CONTINGENCIES 

It  was  Washington's  decided  opinion  should  an  "accommo 
dation  ' '  be  reached  and  the  orders  of  the  French  court  call  the 
auxiliary  army  from  the  American  continent,  the  embarkation 
could  as  easily  be  made  upon  the  Delaware  or  Hudson  as  upon 
the  Chesapeake. 

For  these  reasons  the  chief  could  see  no  good  consequences 
resulting  from  the  French  remaining  at  Baltimore,  but  many 
advantages  attending  their  marching  forward  and  ' '  forming  a 
junction  with  this  army." 


After  Yorktown  487 

FRENCH    ARMY    AGAIN    IN    MOTION 

It  was  planned  by  ROCHAMBEAU  to  leave  Baltimore  August 
15,  marching  to  the  Hudson  by  way  of  Philadelphia.  It  was 
August  20,  however,  before  the  French  column  was  in  motion. 
The  defeat  of  De  Grasse  disarranged  all  other  plans  on  the  part 
of  France.  The  arrival  of  British  reenforcements  at  New  York 
and  the  intention  to  evacuate  Charleston  made  an  increase  of 
the  American  strength  imperative.  A  concentration  of  the 
two  armies  was  therefore  necessitated  as  a  measure  of  precau 
tion.  In  the  event  of  peace,  the  commander  in  chief  was  more 
strongly  favorable  to  the  embarkation  of  the  French  army 
at  some  northern  port. 

Early  in  August  Brigadier- General  Choisy,  in  anticipation  of 
the  arrival  of  the  French  fleet,  proceeded  tp  Boston  to  notify 
Governor  Hancock  of  its  coming  and  to  make  arrangements  for 
supplies. 

FRENCH  FLEET  AT  BOSTON 

This  fleet,  commanded  by  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil,  anchored  in 
Nantasket  Roads  August  1 1 .  It  consisted  of  1 3  ships  of  the 
line,  of  which  4  mounted  80  and  the  rest  74  guns;  3  frigates, 
and  a  cutter.  On  the  passage  up  from  the  West  Indies  the 
fleet  captured  six  English  transports  bound  for  Jamaica. 

AGGRESSIVE   MOVE   PROPOSED 

The  Marquis  in  a  letter  to  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  revived 
the  idea  of  Destouches  of  a  "  coup  de  main ' '  upon  the  British 
post  at  Penobscot,  and  asked  his  opinion  and  advice  on  the 
subject. 

The  Count  very  plainly  disapproved  of  the  project,  and  refer 
ring  the  subject  to  Washington,  it  received  the  same  treatment, 
only  in  more  positive  form.  The  latter  also  notified  Governor 
Hancock,  of  Massachusetts,  to  the  same  effect;  but  should 
' '  more  'favorable  circumstances  turn  up  to  make  the  attack 
appear  practicable  to  the  French  admiral,  General  Choisy,  and 
Governor  Hancock,  the  State  of  Massachusetts  would  be  obliged 


488  After  Yorktown 

to  afford  the  means  to  carry  the  operation  into  effect,   as  it 
would  be  impossible  at  this  distance  to  afford  timely  aid. ' ' 

After  this  correspondence  the  scheme  was  abandoned,  not 
withstanding  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  governor  of  Massachu 
setts  to  put  it  into  execution. 

BRITISH   SITUATION 

The  evacuation  of  Charleston  would  leave  no  force  of  the 
enemy  at  the  south.  The  remaining  foothold  in  the  former 
colonies  would  then  be  confined  to  L,ong,  Staten,  and  New  York 
islands.  About  2,000  British  troops  had  been  shipped  to  the 
Antilles.  The  remaining  British  and  Germans,  constituting 
the  garrison  of  New  York,  aggregated  10,000  men  of  all  arms. 

GETTING    THE   ALLIED   ARMIES    IN    TOUCH   WITH    ENEMY 

On  August  31  Washington  transferred  his  troops  from  New- 
burgh  to  Verplancks  Point,  in  accordance  with  an  arrangement 
with  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  to  form  a  junction  of  the  two 
armies  in  that  locality  in  order  to  be  nearer  the  enemy  in  event 
of  an  attack  from  New  York. 

ARRIVAL   OF    ROCHAMBEAU   WITH    HIS    TROOPS 

The  advance  division  of  the  French  army  under  Comte  DE 
ROCHAMBEAU  in  person  reached  Kings  Ferry  from  the  south 
September  15.  '  The  second  division  came  up  immediately  after. 
The  whole  French  army  crossed  the  Hudson  and  encamped  on 
the  left  of  the  Americans  near  Crompond,  about  10  miles  from 
Verplanks  Point  and  24  miles  from  the  enemy's  advanced 
position  on  New  York  Island. 

HONORS   TO   OUR   ALLIES 

The  junction  of  the  two  armies  was  attended  with  great  cere 
mony,  insomuch  that  the  Comte  recalled  the  honor  in  his 
memoirs  in  the  words: 

General  Washington,  wishing  to  testify  his  respect  for  France  an'd  his 
recognition  of  the  benefits  she  had  rendered,  caused  us  to  pass  between 


After  Yorktown 


489 


two  lines  of  troops  clad,  equipped,  and  armed  with  clothing  and  arms 
from  France  and  from  the  English  magazines  taken  at  Yorktown,  which 
the  French  army  had  relinquished  to  the  Americans.  He  ordered  the 
drums  to  beat  a  French  march  during  the  whole  review,  and  the  two  armies 
rejoined  with  the  most  lively  demonstrations  of  reciprocal  satisfaction. 

SPLENDID  CONDUCT  OF  FRENCH  TROOPS 

The  discipline  displayed  by  the  French  troops  while  in  the 
States,  and  especially  in  their  marches  through  the  country,  and 
particularly  their  respect  for  property,  was  so  great,  not  even 
taking  fruit  without  permission,  that  ROCHAMBEAU  and  his 
officers  were  literally  overwhelmed  with  addresses  of  congrat 
ulations  and  mingled  expressions  of  admiration  and  gratitude. 

QUAKER   TESTIMONY 

In  passing  through  Philadelphia  a  deputation  of  Quakers 
addressing  him  said: 

General,  it  is  not  on  account  of  thy  military  qualities  that  we  make  thee 
this  visit;  those  we  hold  in  little  esteem,  but  thee  art  the  friend  of  man 
kind  and  thy  army  conducts  itself  with  the  utmost  order  and  discipline. 
It  is  this  which  induces  us  to  render  thee  our  respects. 

FRENCH    STRENGTH 

The  following  return  shows  the  active  strength  and  absentees 
of  the  French  army  at  this  time: 

General  situation  of  the  army  under  the  orders  of  3f.  le  Count  de  Ro- 
chambeau  for  the  period  September  19,  1782. 


REGIMENTS. 

Composition  of  the  regiments 
to  Sept.  19,  1782. 

Present  offi 
cers  and 
men  of  all 
arms. 

Absentees. 

Total. 

799 
798 

312 

214 
228 
195 

172 

190 

22 
8 
80 

972 
996 
994 

970 

502 

22 

| 

Auxonne: 
Artillerie                                                  

27 
476 

3,938 

i,  108 

5>°47 

490  After  Yorktown 

Showing  the  high  state  of  discipline  maintained,  it  should  be 
added  that  aside  from  the  24  deaths  there  were  but  28  deser 
tions  during  the  previous  period.  The  entire  company  of 
mineurs  was  detached  to  Feltz  Point.  Among  the  absentees, 
477  were  on  special  duty  at  various  places,  and  631  in  hospital. 

A   FETE   DAY   IN   CAMP 

On  September  21,  at  Verplanks  Point,  the  officers  of  the 
American  army  celebrated  the  second  anniversary  of  the  first 
meeting  of  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU  by  a  reception  and 
feast  to  their  French  allies.  The  two  generals  honored  the 
event  by  their  presence. 

BRITISH    DESIGNS 

The  fleet  of  M.  de  Vaudreuil  at  the  end  of  September  was 
anchored  in  two  detachments,  one  at  Boston  the  other  at  Ports 
mouth,  N.  H. 

The  British,  notwithstanding  Franklin's  epigram  ''they  are 
unable  to  carry  on  the  war  and  too  proud  to  make  peace,"  were 
seriously  contemplating  an  attack  on  these  divided  forces. 
Washington  with  his  usual  alacrity  not  only  informed  Vau 
dreuil  what  was  in  the  wind,  but  prompted  the  governors  of 
Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire  to  get  their  militia  in  shape 
for  the  emergency  should  it  arise. 

Comte  de  Segur,  son  of  Marquis  de  Segur,  minister  of  war, 
and  Prince  de  Broglie,  of  one  of  the  noted  military  families  of 
France,  with  strong  letters  of  introduction  from  Franklin,  were 
the  latest  acquisitions  to  the  French  army,  although  the  likeli 
hood  of  further  active  service  against  the  British  was  growing 
more  and  more  remote. 

ORDERS   TO   MARCH   TO    BOSTON 

The  French  commander,  having  received  orders  to  march  to 
Boston  for  embarkation  for  the  West  Indies,  broke  camp  near 
Verplanks  Point  October  22,  marching  by  way  of  Hartford 
and  Providence.  The  American  army  at  the  same  time  moved 
up,  crossing  the  Hudson  at  West  Point. 


After  Yorktoivn  491 

On  the  last  day  but  two  of  November  the  Americans  went 
into  winter  cantonment  at  New  Windsor,  Washington  again 
establishing  his  headquarters  at  Newburgh. 

PARTING    HONORS 

The  breaking  of  camp  and  marching  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and 
his  troops  out  of  the  allied  lines  after  the  brilliant  services 
together  against  the  last  British  force  in  the  field  was  a  source 
of  deep  emotion  among  the  officers  of  both  armies.  The  feeling 
extended  even  to  the  soldiers,  among  whom  passed  many  scenes 
of  affection. 

On  account  of  military  considerations  no  formal  demonstra 
tions  were  had,  but  the  sentiments  of  regret  were  none  the  less, 
strong. 

EN    ROUTE AT  HARTFORD 

The  French  moved  by  easy  marches.  Arriving  at  Hartford, 
ROCHAMBEAU  halted  his  men  for  about  eight  days,  awaiting 
the  readiness  of  the  fleet  to  take  the  troops  aboard.  On  Novem 
ber  4,  breaking  camp,  he  again  advanced  eastward. 

AT   PROVIDENCE 

As  the  French  corps  approached  Providence,  October  28, 
1782,  ROCHAMBEAU  applied  to  the  governor  for  quarters  for  his 
officers  in  that  city.  The  matter  having  been  turned  over  to 
the  town  council,  the  request  was  promptly  complied  with.  On 
November  8  ROCHAMBEAU  and  staff  reached  the  city.  The 
troops  followed  two  days  later,  at  first  going  into  camp  on 
the  east  side  of  Pawtucket  turnpike,  north  of  the  city  line,  but 
a  few  days  later  were  comfortably  quartered  in  barracks  pre 
pared  for  them.  The  officers  were  distributed  through  the 
town  as  guests  of  distinguished  citizens — ROCHAMBEAU  with 
the  governor. 

Owing  to  the  continued  state  of  war  on  the  part  of  England 
with  France,  neither  country  under  the  alliance  being  permitted 
to  make  peace  with  that  power  except  it  included  the  other,  the 


492  After  York  town 

West  Indies  Was  the  scene  of  considerable  naval  activity. 
Therefore,  the  departure,  of  the  French  fleet  and  army  was  kept 
secret.  It  was  generally  given  out  the  corps  had  marched  to 
the  eastward  to  go  into  winter  quarters.  To  give  the  ruse  that 
appearance  they  began  the  erection  of  cantonments  about  i  % 
miles  northeast  of  the  Market  Square  of  Providence  on  the 
western  slope  of  the  northern  end  of  Prospect  Hill,  which  was 
well  sheltered  and  in  every  way  suitable  for  the  purpose. 

COURTESIES   TO    ROCHAMBEAU 

The  general  assembly  of  Rhode^ Island  jointly  presented  the 
Count  with  an  address  expressive  of  their  sense  of  admiration 
and  appreciation,  as  follows: 

The  COMTE  DE  ROCHAMBEAU: 

The  governor,  council  and  representatives  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island 
and  Providence  Plantations  in  general  assembly  convened,  being  incited 
by  the  sincerest  attachment  and  respect,  present  their  most  affectionate 
and  cordial  acknowledgments  to  your  excellency  and  the  officers  and 
troops  composing  the  army  under  your  command  for  the  great  and  eminent 
services  rendered  since  your  first  arrival  in  this  State.  Nothing  can  equal 
our  admiration  at  the  manner  in  which  you  have  participated  with  the 
Army  of  the  United  States  in  the  fatigues,  the  toils,  and  the  glory  that 
have  attended  the  allied  armies,  but  the  magnanimity  of  the  father  of  his 
people  and  protector  of  the  rights  of  mankind. 

Our  inquietude  at  the  prospect  of  your  removal  would  be  irrepressible 
but  from  the  fullest  conviction  of  the  wisdom  that  directs  the  councils  of 
His  Most  Christian  Majesty.  May  Heaven  reward  your  exertions  in  the 
cause  of  humanity  and  the  particular  regard  you  have  paid  to  the  rights 
of  the  citizens,  and  may  your  laurels  be  crowned  by  the  smiles  of  the  best 
of  kings  and  the  grateful  feelings  of  the  most  generous  of  people. 

Done  in  general  assembly  at  East  Greenwich  this  2yth  day  of  November, 
A.  D.  1782,  and  in  the  seventh  year  of  independence. 

*I  have  the  honor  to  be,  in  behalf  of  the  council  and  representatives,  with 
great  esteem  and  respect. 

Your  excellency's  most  obedient  and  very  humble  servant, 

WIGWAM  GREENE,  Governor. 

By  ordef : 

SAMUEL  WARD,  Secretary. 

To  which  the  Count  replied: 

GENTLEMEN:  It  is  with  inexpressible  pleasure  that  I  and  the  troops 
under  my  command  have  received  the  marks  of  esteem  and  of  acknowledg- 


After  Yorktown  493 

merit  which  you  are  so  good  as  to  give  to  the  services  which  we  have 
been  happy  enough  to  render  to  the  United  States  jointly  with  the 
American  Army  under  the  orders  of  General  Washington.  This  State  is 
the  first  we  have  been  acquainted  with.  The  friendly  behavior  of  its 
inhabitants  now  and  at  our  arrival  here  will  give  them  always  a  right  to 
our  gratitude. 

The  confidence  you  have  in  the  wisdom  of  the  views  of  our  Sovereign  as 
to  the  disposition  and  march  of  his  troops  must  likewise  assure  you  that 
on  no  occasion  whatever  will  he  separate  his  interests  from  those  of  his 
faithful  allies. 

IvE    COMTE    DE    ROCHAMBEAU.. 

The  organization  and  personnel  of  the  general  staff ,  field,  line, 
and  rank  and  file  of  the  French  army  when  it  marched  back  to 
Rhode  Island  on  November,  1782,  were  practically  the  same  as 
when  it  marched  away  in  June,  1781.  Vicomte  de  Rocham- 
beau  was  absent.  Corny,  commissary  of  war,  had  returned  to 
France.  Marquis  de  Vaubaun  had  been  added  as  second  aid 
to  ROCHAMBEAU;  De  Lange  and  Desoteaux  were  added  and  De 
Sange  had  disappeared  from  the  staff  of  Baron  de  Viomenil; 
De  Tressan  was  in  the  place  of  Saumaun  as  aid  to  De  Choisy; 
Romanz  had  become  first  aid  to  the  colonel  commandant  of 
artillery. 

During  the  halt  at  Providence  the  higher  officers  seized  the 
opportunity  to  make  visits  to  old  friends  at  Newport  in  order  to 
enjoy  a  few  fleeting  moments  of  hospitality  and  farewell. 

ROCHAMBEAU  TAKES  LEAVE  OF  HIS  VALIANT  FRENCHMEN 

On  November  29  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  took  leave  of  his 
troops,  placing  Baron  de  Viomenil,  next  in  rank,  in  command, 
and  returned  to  headquarters  at  Newburgh. 

GENERAL    AND    MRS.   WASHINGTON    EXTEND    HOSPITALITY 

General  and  Mrs.  Washington  gave  to  the  great  soldier  of 
France  and  suite  a  most  cordial  entertainment  of  welcome  and 
departure  on  their  way  from  Rhode  Island  to  Philadelphia  and 
Annapolis  to  embark  for  France. 

The  Marquis  de  Chastellux  in  his  memoirs  of  travels,  in  con 
nection  with  this  last  meeting  of  General  Washington  and 


494  After  Yorktown 

Count  DE  ROCHAMBKAU,  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the 
unostentatious  surroundings  of  the  commander  in  chief.  It 
was  December  5,  1782: 

We  passed  the  North  (Hudson)  River  as  night  came  on  and  arrived  at 
6  o'clock  at  Newburgh,  where  I  found  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Washington,  Colonels 
Humphreys  and  Tilghman  and  also  Major  Walker. 

A   PEN. PICTURE 

The  marquis  vividly  describes  the  house  so  familiar  to  every 
one  acquainted  with  the  closing  military  scenes  of  the  war  for 
independence,  and  continuing — 

I  found  the  company  assembled  in  a  small  room  which  served  as  a  par 
lour.  At  9  o'clock  supper  was  served.  When  the  Hour  of  bedtime  came 
I  found  that  the  chamber  to  which  the  General  conducted  me  was  the  very 
parlour  I  speak  of,  wherein  he  had  had  them  place  a  bed. 

We  assembled  at  breakfast  the  next  morning  at  10,  during  which  in 
terval  my  bed  was  folded  up  and  my  chamber  became  my  sitting  room  for 
the  whole  afternoon,  for  American  manners  do  not  admit  of  a  bed  in  the 
room  in  which  company  is  received,  especially  when  there  are  women 
present. 

The  smallness  of  the  house  and  the  difficulty  to  which  I  saw  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Washington  had  put  themselves  to  receive  me,  made  me  apprehensive 
lest  M.  ROCHAMBEAU,  who  was  to  set  out  the  day  after  me,  might  arrive 
on  the  day  I  remained  at  headquarters,  so  I  therefore  sent  to  Fishkill  to 
meet  him  with  a  request  to  stay  there  that  night. 

My  express  found  him  already  at  the  landing,  where  he  slept,  and  did 
not  join  us  till  the  next  morning  as  I  was  setting  out. 

ARRIVAL    AT    BOSTON 

After  a  halt  of  two  weeks  the  French  army  resumed  its  march 
and  entered  Boston  during  the  first  week  of  December,  having 
made  the  distance  from  Providence  in  two  days. 

Very  shortly  after  going  into  camp  the  governor,  John  Han 
cock,  and  council  tendered  to  the  commanding  general,  Count 
Viomenil,  and  Vaudreuil,  admiral  commanding  the  fleet,  and 
their  officers,  a  public  dinner  at  which  suitable  addresses  were 
made  voicing  opinion,  official  and  public,  in  Massachusetts  and 
throughout  the  States  upon  the  sendees  of  the  French  troops 
and  ships  in  bringing  the  war  to  a  triumphant  success. 


After  Yorktown  495 

Among  the  parting  amenities  Congress,  on  September  3,  by 
resolution  in  testimony  of  their  sense  of  appreciation  of  the  gen 
erosity  of  the  French  King  presented  to  the  French  minister, 
Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne,  the  America,  a  74-gun  ship  of  the  line 
but  recently  built  for  the  American  navy,  for  the  service  of  his 
King,  the  Magnifique,  a  74-gun  ship  of  the  French  fleet  having 
been  lost  in  the  harbor  by  accident  in  the  late  summer. 

WASHINGTON    BIDS    FAREWELL 

Washington  in  a  letter  of  December  12  to  Baron  de  Viomenil 
bids  farewell  to  that  officer  and  his  army.  After  repeating  the 
reason  for  not  taking  public  leave,  his  destination  then  bei'ng  a 
secret,  and  adverting  to  the  reluctance  with  which  he  parted 
with  the  French  army  and  the  grateful  sense  of  the  very  essen 
tial  services  they  had  rendered  to  America,  he  continued  ' '  per 
mit  me  to  request  the  favor  of  your  excellency  to  make  the 
necessary  apologies  for  me;  to  express  to  both  officers  and  men 
how  warmly  I  feel  myself  interested  in  whatever  concerns  their 
honor  and  glory  and  to  assure  them  it  is  my  ardent  wish  that 
victory  may  attend  them  wherever  the  orders  of  their  sovereign 
may  direct  their  arms."  . 

VIOMENIL' s  TOUGHING  REPLY 

On  December  18  the  baron  sent  the  following  reply: 

The  veneration  with  which  this  army  was  penetrated,  from  the  first 
moment  they  had  the  honor  of  being  presented  to  your  excellency  by 
Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  their  confidence  in  your  talents  and  the  wisdom 
of  your  orders,  the  remembrance  of  your  kindness  and  attention  and  the 
example  you  set  them  in  every  critical  circumstance,  the  approbation, 
regret,  and  wishes  you  have  honored  them  with  at  their  departure;  these 
are  considerations  by  which  you  may  be  assured  there  is  not  an  individual 
officer  in  this  army  who  is  not  sensibly  touched,  as  he  is  flattered  by  your 
approbation;  or  who  does  not  exceedingly  regret  that  the  secret  of  our 
destination  deprived  them  of  the  pleasure  of  being  again  presented  by 
Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  to  pay  their  respects  to  your  excellency,  and  to 
express  their  feelings  on  the  occasion.  Having  thus  interpreted  their 
feelings  to  your  excellency,  allow  me,  sir,  to  embrace  this  opportunity  to 
assure  you  that  the  sentiments  you  have  already  permitted  me  to  express 
to  you,  will  be  as  durable  as  the  profound  respect  with  which  I  have  the 
honor  to  be,  etc. 


496  After  Yorktown 

Although  it  was  proposed  to  embark  and  sail  at  once,  eight 
een  days  elapsed  before  the  fleet  passed  out  of  Boston  Harbor. 

This  delay  was  largely  due  to  the  absence  of  authentic  infor 
mation  of  the  evacuation  of  Charleston  by  the  British,  which 
took  place  December  14. 

The  British,  however,  were  evidently  not  counting  on  any 
more  aggressive  operations,  as  their  fleet  of  23  vessels  sailed  to 
the  southward  from  New  York  two  months  before  (October  23) 
in  two  divisions,  the  first  consisting  of  1 2  ships  under  Admiral 
Pigot,  and  the  second,  1 1  vessels,  soon  after. 

The  French  army  began  embarkation  on  De  Vaudreuil's  ships, 
which  numbered  13,  on  December  21,  and  all  was  ready  to 
weigh  anchor  three  days  later. 

FAREWELL,  GOOD   FRIENDS 

The  entire  force  of  the  grand  auxiliary  army  of  ROCHAM- 
BEAU,  now  under  command  of  Baron  De  Viomenil,  save  Lau- 
zan's  legion  and  a  detachment  left  to  guard  the  heavy  artillery 
of  the  French  army,  sailed  for  Santo  Domingo,  then  a  French 
colony,  having  served  two  years  and  a  half  in  America  under  the 
supreme  command  of  Gen.  George  Washington,  of  Virginia, 
commander  in  chief  of  the  armies  of  the  American  States,  lieu 
tenant-general  in  the  armies  of  France,  and  commander  in  chief 
of  the  allied  armies  of  the  United  States  of  America  and  France 
in  North  America. 

Due  de  I^auzun  with  his  legion  remained  in  the  States  to 
await  developments.  The  siege  artillery  of  the  French  arm}*, 
left  at  Yorktown  for  the  same  reason,  had  been  transported  to 
Baltimore  with  a  guard  of  400  men  detailed  from  the  different 
regiments  for  that  purpose.  There  were  400  sick,  unable  to  be 
moved,  which  made  1,400  Frenchmen  in  all  Jeft  behind,  the  en 
tire  force  being  under  Due  de  L,auzun.  The  duke  and  his 
legion  were  quartered  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  about  29  miles 
south  of  Philadelphia. 

Count  de  Fersen,  first  aid  to  ROCHAMBEAU,  sailed  with  the 
fleet  on  board  Le  Brave,  a  74-gun  ship,  Chevalier  d'Amblimont 
commanding.  Comte  de  Deux-Ponts  and  three  of  his  companies 
were  on  board  the  same  vessel. 


After  Yorktown  497 

THE    KING    APPROVES 

During  the  presence  of  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  in  Philadel 
phia  en  route,  the  Danae  frigate,  M.  de  Capellis,  commanding, 
arrived  with  dispatches  from  the  ministry  and  a  personal  mes 
sage  from  the  King,  giving  his  entire  approval  of  Count  DE 
ROCHAMBEAU' s  conduct  in  command  of  the  royal  auxiliary 
forces  in  America. 

CONGRESS — THANKS    AND    FARBWEW, 

The  President  of  Congress  on  a  report  of  the  Secretary  for 
foreign  affairs,  also  presented  to  the  Count  the  following  formal 
expression  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  the 
States  in  their  united  character  upon  his  returning  to  France: 

BY  THE  UNITED  STATES  IN  CONGRESS  ASSEMBLED,  JANUARY  i,  1783: 

The  minister  plenipotentiary  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty,  having 
communicated  to  Congress  through  the  secretary  for  foreign  affairs  on  the 
7th  of  December  last  the  resolution  taken  to  embark  the  army  under  the 
command  of  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  and  on  the  29th  (24)  their  having 
actually  embarked  and  sailed,  together  with  His  Majesty's  intention  to 
direct  them  to  return  whenever  an  object  should  offer  in  which  they  might 
effectually  cooperate  with  the  troops  of  the  United  States; 

Resolved,  That  the  secretary  of  foreign  affairs  inform  the  minister  of 
France,  that  though  Congress  can  not  see  without  regret  the  departure  of 
any  army  to  whose  bravery  and  good  conduct  they  are  so  greatly  indebted 
for  the  reduction  of  the  enemy's  force  in  this  country,  yet  that  they  have 
too  much  confidence  in  the  intention  of  His  Majesty  to  the  interests  of  the 
alliance  not  to  be  persuaded  that  the  order  for  the  departure  was  dictated 
by  a  conviction  that  they  could  elsewhere  be  more  usefully  employed 
against  the  common  enemy. 

That  they  wish  him  to  make  known  to  His  Majesty  the  grateful  sense 
they  entertained  of  his  attention  to  their  immediate  interests  manifested 
in  the  important  aid  thus  long  afforded  them  and  in  his  generous  deter 
mination  to  direct  his  troops  to  return  to  this  country  whenever  circum 
stances  will  admit  of  an  advantageous  cooperation  with  the  arms  of  the 
United  States;  that  they  desire,  through  him,  to  recommend  in  a  particu 
lar  manner  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEA'U  and  the  army  under  his  command  to 
the  favor  of  His  Majesty,  having  the  highest  reason  to  be  satisfied  with 
their  bravery  and  good  conduct  and  with  that  strict  discipline  to  which 
they  are  indebted  for  the  perfect  harmony  which  has  so  happily  subsisted 
between  them  and  the  soldiers  and  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

Resolved,  That  the  President  make  the  acknowledgments  of  Congress  in 
a  particular  manner  to  his  excellency  the  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  and 

S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 32 


498  After  Yorktown 

signify  to  him  the  .high  sense  they  entertain  of  the  distinguished  talents 
displayed  by  him  to  so  much  advantage  to  these  States  in  the  most  impor 
tant  conjunctions,  as  well  as  of  the  strict  and  exemplary  discipline  which 
has  been  uniformally  conspicuous  among  the  troops  under  his  command, 
and  which  have  deservedly  acquired  the  admiration  and  esteem  of  the 
citizens  of  these  States,  by  whom  his  signal  services  and  the  delicate  atten 
tion  at  all  times  paid  to  their  private  rights  will  ever  be  held  in  affection 
ate  remembrance. 

HOMEWARD    BOUND 

Comte  DE  ROCHAMBKAU  at  first  expected  to  embark  on  the 
frigate  La  Gloire,  at  Philadelphia,  but  after  a  brief  sojourn  at 
that  city  in  the  first  days  of  1783  continued  his  journey  to 
Annapolis,  where  the  Emeraude]  another  French  frigate,  was  at 
anchor  awaiting  him.  He  was  accompanied  by  Chevalier  de 
Chastellux,  M.  de  Beville,  General  Choisy,  and  the  entire  staff 
and  aides  excepting  Cointe  de  Fersen,  who  had  sailed  from 
Boston  with  the  French  troops. 

The  party  went  aboard  expecting  to  get  underway  January  8, 
but  it  was  not  until  three  days" later  that  the  vessel  sailed. 

LAST   FAREWELL 

General  Washington,  with  his  usual  thoughtful  consideration 
of  the  proprieties  of  occasion  as  well  as  the  promptings  of  obli 
gation  and  affection,  sent  to  the  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  and 
Marquis  de  Chastellux  letters  of  farewell,  which  reached  those 
gentlemen  before  the  day  of  sailing. 

TOUCHING   TRIBUTES 

Under  date  of  December  14, 1782,  headquarters,  at  Newburgh, 
he  writes  to  De  Chastellux  under  the  endearing  salutatory: 

MY  DEAR  CHEVAUER:  I  felt  too  much  to  express  anything  the  day  I 
parted  from  you.  A  sense  of  your  public  services  to  this  country,  and 
gratitude  for  your  private  friendship,  quite  overcame  me  at  the  moment  of 
our  separation.  But  I  should  do  violence  to  my  feelings  and  inclination 
were  I  to  suffer  you  to  leave  the  country  without  the  warmest  assurances 
of  an  affectionate  regard  for  your  person  and  character. 

After  referring  to  "  our  good  friend,  the  Marquis  de  Lafay 
ette  ' '  as  having  prepared  him  long  before  meeting  ' '  for  those 


After  Yorktown  499 

impressions  of  esteem  which  opportunities  and  your  own  benev 
olent  mind  have  since  led  into  a  deep  and  lasting  friendship, 
which  neither  time  nor  distance  can  eradicate,"  the  great 
Washington  continues — 

I  can  truly  say,  that  never  in  my  life  have  I  parted  with  a  man  to  whom 
my  soul  clave  more  sincerely  than  it  did  to  you.  *  *  and  be  assured 

that  it  will  be  one  of  my  highest  gratifications  to  keep  up  a  regular  inter 
course  with  you  by  letter. 

The  general  in  chief  further  expressed  his  regret  that  circum 
stances  should  withdraw  him — 

from  this  country  before  the  final  accomplishment  of  that  independence 
and  peace  which  the  arms  of  our  good  ally  have  assisted  in  placing  before 
us  in  so  agreeable  a  point  of  view. 

Continuing— 

Nothing  would  give  me  more  pleasure  than  to  accompany  you  in  a  tour 
through  the  continent  of  North  America  at  the  close  of  the  war,  in  search 
of  the  natural  curiosities  with  which  it  abounds  and  to  view  the  founda 
tion  of  the  rising  empire. <*> 

On  the  same  day  of  his  affectionate  and  prophetic  letter  to 
Chevalier  de  Chastellux,  Washington  sent  by  express  this 
equally  touching  valedictory  to  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  not 
being  willing  to  have  him  depart  from  the  country  without 

«De  Chastellux  (Francis  John)  Marquis  de,  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  of  the 
able  superior  officers  of  the  French  army  in  America.  During  his  service  in  connec 
tion  with  his  military  duties,  when  not  in  active  campaign,  he  gave  most  of  his  time  to 
traveling  about  the  country  and  making  notes  of  what  he  saw. 

An  edition  of  24  copies  of  his  travels  was  printed  on  board  one  of  the  ships  of  the 
French  squadron  while  in  American  waters.  The  complete  story  translated  was 
printed  in  L,ondon  in  1787.  After  returning  to  France  he  was  made  field  marshal  by 
the  King  and  member  of  the  French  Academy.  About  five  years  later  he  married  a 
lady  of  unusual  gifts,  a  relative  of  the  Duke  of  Orleans. 

This  event  in  his  life  he  communicated  (April,  1788)  in  a  letter  to  Washington,  who, 
in  a  vein  of  excellent  humor,  promptly  replied: 

"I  saw  by  theeulogium  you  often  made  on  the  happiness  of  domestic  life  that  you 
had  swallowed  the  bait  and  that  you  would  as  surely  be  taken  one  day  or  another  as 
that  you  were  a  philosopher  and  a  soldier.  So  your  day  has  at  length  come.  I  am 
glad  of  it  with  all  my  heart  and  soul.  It  is  quite  good  enough  for  you.  Now,  you  are 
well  served  for  coming  to  fight  in  favor  of  the  American  rebels  all  the  way  across  the 
Atlantic  Ocean  by  catching  that  terrible  contagion,  domestic  felicity,  which  like  the 
smallpox  or  plague  a  man  can  have  only  once  in  his  life." 

The  count  died  in  1793.  His  fortune  was  swept  away  in  the  upheaval  of  the  French 
revolution.  In  1795  his  widow  made  a  distressing  appeal  to  Washington  for  a  pension 
for  herself  and  infant  son  on  account  of  her  husband's  services  in  America.  Pained 
as  he  was,  no  action  could  be  taken. 


JOG  After  Yorktown 

repeating  the  high  sense  he  entertained  of  the  services  he  had 
rendered  to  America. 

To  this  testimony  of  his  public  character  he  wrote  he  should 
be  wanting  to  the  feelings  of  his  heart  were  he  not  to  add 
expressions  of  the  happiness  he  had  enjoyed  in  his  private 
friendship,  the  remembrance  of  which  would  be  one  of  the  most 
pleasant  circumstances  of  his  life. 

TROPHIES    OF    YORKTOWN 

About  a  fortnight  later,  after  the  Count  had  left  camp  on  the 
Hudson  for  Philadelphia,  Washington  followed  him  with 
another  letter,  informing  him  of  his  ' '  infinite  satisfaction ' '  in 
being  able  to  send  to  Philadelphia  the  cannon— 

which  Congress  were  pleased  to  present  to  your  excellency  in  testimony 
of  their  sense  of  the  illustrious  part  you  bore  in  the  capture  of  the  British 
army  under  L,ord  Cornwallis  at  York  in  Virginia. 

The  carriages  were  to  follow  by  another  conveyance,  not 
being  quite  ready,  but  he — 

could  not  resist  the  pleasure  on  that  account  of  forwarding  these  pieces 
previous  to  your  departure  in  hopes  the  inscriptions  and  devices  as  well 
as  the  execution  may  be  agreeable  to  your  wishes. 

A    LAST   LINE 

On  January  n,  1783,  as  the  Emeraude  was  about  to  sail,  the 
Count  replied: 

Though  I  was  gone  from  Philadelphia  before  the  cannon  arrived  there, 
give  me  leave  to  observe  that  your  usual  attention  and  politeness  have 
been  shown  to  the  last  moment,  of  which  this  is  a  fresh  proof.  I  write  to 
the  Chevalier  de  la  I/uzerne  to  keep  them  till  peace,  when  they  ma}7  be 
carried  over  without  danger  of  being  taken.  We  are  just  getting  under 
sail.  In  this  moment  I  renew  to  your  excellency  my  sincere  acknowledg 
ments  for  your  friendship  and  am,  with  the  most  inviolable  attachment 
and  respect,  your  most  obedient  servant,  etc.  « 

PARTANT    POUR    LA    FRANCE 

With  these  parting  words  the  Emeraude  spread  her  sails  for 
France. 

a  The  cannon  were  sent  to  ROCHAMBEAU  after  peace  had  been  declared,  and  were 
mounted  on  his  estate. 


After  York  town  501 

ON  THE  WATCH   FOR  ROCHAMBEAU 

The  English  at  New  York,  advised  of  the  purpose  of 
ROCHAMBEAU  to  sail  on  the  Emeraude  from  the  Chesapeake, 
sent  a  ship  of  the  line  and  two  frigates  to  cruise  off  the  Capes 
in  hope  of  effecting  his  capture. 

The  Emeraude  cleared  the  Capes  January  14,  1783,  in  a 
fresh  northwest  breeze.  Scarcely  had  the  land  vanished  below 
the  horizon  than  a  frigate  of  the  enemy  hove  in  sight  from  the 
south.  The  Emeraude  quickly  changing  her  course,  and  night 
approaching,  pointed  to  the  north.  The  wind  about  the  same 
time  shifted  to  the  northeast.  The  enemy  taking  advantage  of 
this  favorable  situation  advanced  by  the  larboard  quarter  in  an 
effort  to  catch  the  Frenchman  between  himself  and  the  coast, 
at  the  same  time  putting  about  gave  the  Emeraude  a  broadside. 

The  French  commander  discovering  his  antagonist  to  be  a 
ship  of  the  line  at  once  realized  the  better  part  of  valor  was  to 
escape,  if  possible.  Therefore,  crowding  on  all  sail  he  pointed 
for  the  open  sea. 

AN   EXCITING    CHASE 

A  clever  test  of  the  sailing  qualities  of  the  two  ships  and  sea 
manship  on  the  part  of  their  commanders  followed.  During 
the  entire  night  in  the  bright  light  of  the  moon  and  all  the 
next  day  and  into  the  next  night  there  was  an  exciting  race, 
the  Englishman  keeping  it  up  for  thirty  hours.  Twice  the 
vessels  were  within  cannon  shot  and  exchanged  broadsides. 

The  most  embarrassing  part  of  the  race  was  a  sudden  abate 
ment  of  the  wind.  Finding  the  Englishmen  gaining,  all  spare 
masts,  yards,  and  a  few  carronades  were  thrown  overboard. 
Thus  lightened,  the  Emeraude  began  to  put  distance  between 
herself  and  the  pursuing  craft  and  finally  left  her  out  of  sight, 
having  sailed  about  80  leagues  (250  miles)  south  of  her  course. 

On  January  1 6  the  ship  encountered  hurricane  weather  which 
followed  her  to  Cape  Finisterre,  but  at  last  entered  the  river 
Nantes  in  safety  in  the  first  month  of  spring,  having  expe 
rienced  a  narrow  escape  from  capture  by  the  English  squadron 
in  wait  for  him  off  the  French  coast. 


502  After  Yorktown 

The  first  news  to  greet  the  Count  was  the  conclusion  of  peace 
between  the  States  and  Great  Britain  and  also  between  France 
and  her  ancient  enemy. 

A   CHARACTER   SKETCH 

The  character  of  ROCHAMBEAU  had  many  phases  of  the  world's 
estimate  of  greatness.  In  some  respects  he  possessed  strong 
points  of  resemblance  to  Washington.  Their  habits  of  thought, 
exploitation  of  methods,  initiative  and  application  were  strik 
ingly  similar,  which  fact,  as  much  as  any  other  consideration, 
led  to  that  remarkable  reciprocation  of  respect  and  action  which 
culminated  in  brilliant  success. 

ROCHAMBEAU  was  a  man  of  perfect  equipoise.  Had  he  not 
been,  the  trials,  perplexities,  and  annoyances  of  his  position 
and  surroundings  would  have  led  to  disaster. 

He  shared  with  Washington  a  just  apprehension  of  the  feasi 
bility  of  bringing  together  on  a  common  line  of  military  duty 
officers  and  men  who  hitherto  had  been  on  opposite  sides  in 
politics  and  on  the  battle  line  of  antagonizing  forces,  of  which 
the  American  colonies  were  a  prominent  factor. 

The  reconciliation  of  the  issues  of  the  past  was  one  of  the 
greatest  triumphs  of  ROCHAMBEAU  in  America.  The  very  first 
act  of  his  advent  upon  the  scene  after  landing  his  men  on  the 
continent,  where  for  more  than  a  century  their  predecessors  had 
served  in  the  character  of  enemies,  was  to  place  himself  and  his 
army,  without  mental  reservation  or  subjunctives,  under  the 
orders  of  his  American  chief,  whom  he  had  never  seen,  and  of 
whose  characteristics  he  knew  nothing.  In  their  intercourse, 
after  he  complied  with  every  request  and  coincided  in  every 
command,  even  if  not  precisely  in  line  with  his  own  judgment, 
a  feeling  of  irritation  if  not  discouragement  would  have  been 
natural  under  the  incessant  pricking  and  insinuation  of  British 
and  Tory  influences,  especially  in  that  Washington  studiously 
delayed  a  conference,  did  not  desire  to  meet  him,  and  did  only 
after  months  of  studied  delay,  when  the  desperate  extremity  of 
the  American  situation  demanded  outside  aid  or  submission. 

L,eft  for  nearly  a  year  without  a  word  from  his  Government 
or  the  fulfillment  of  the  promises  to  him  of  the  full  detail  of  his 


After  Yorktown  503 

army,  subjected  to  importunities  which  did  not  concern  him 
nor  the  destiny  of  his  doing,  the  conduct  of  some  of  his  own 
officers  in  outspoken  comment  upon  the  neglect  of  his  Govern 
ment,  and  apparent  indifference  of  the  American,  which  more 
or  less  affected  the  force  of  his  authority,  were  sufficient  to  dis 
turb  and  test  the  nobility  of  character  and  equanimity  of  the 
most  calm  of  men.  But  not  so  ROCHAMBKAU.  He  went  for 
ward  in  the  path  of  duty  undisturbed  by  petty  cavilings  and 
criticism,  without  apology  or  explanation,  even  to  those  nearest 
to  him  in  rank  and  in  the  closer  ties  of  friendship.  The 
qualities  which  in  Washington  were  the  moral  law  of  life 
were  in  ROCHAMBEAU  a  religion.  The  more  trying  the  situa 
tion  the  more  resolute  his  three  strong  points — fortitude, 
endurance,  and  equanimity.  Like  Washington  again,  he  was 
a  man  of  concentration  and  reserve.  He  had  the  full  conviction 
of  duty  and  unbounded  self-control.  He  was  wise  in  resolve, 
sagacious  in  counsel,  prompt  in  preparation,  and  exact  in 
execution. 

In  deportment  he  was  always  easy  and  courteous.  His 
deference  toward  his  American  chief  was  at  all  times  an  example 
to  his  army,  from  the  second  in  command  to  the  man  behind 
the  bayonet. 

It  was  the  moral  exaltation  of  ROCHAMBKAU  which  brought 
victory  to  the  allied  standards  as  much  as  the  gallantry  of  the 
brave  Frenchmen  subject  to  his  command. 

PEACE 

The  packet  Washington,  Captain  Barney,  which  sailed  from 
F Orient  January  17,  1783,  reached  Philadelphia,  March  12, 
with  news  of  the  signing  of  the  preliminary  articles  of  peace 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States  at  Paris  on 
November  30,  1782. 

The  definitive  treaty  of  peace  which  acknowledged  the  inde 
pendence  of  the  United  States  of  America  was  not  concluded 
and  signed  (also  at  Paris)  until  September  3,  1783.  This  pact 
under  the  stipulations  of  the  alliance  was  accompanied  by  a 
similar  instrument  between  France  and  England. 


504  After  Yorktown 

Upon  receiving  the  cheering  advices  of  a  general  peace, 
Washington  wrote  a  letter  of  intense  gratification  to  Chevalier 
de  la  Luzerne  the  French  minister  at  Philadelphia,  in  the  course 
of  which  he  said: 

The  part  your  excellency  has  acted  in  the  cause  of  America,  and  the 
great  and  benevolent  share  you  have  taken  in  the  establisnment  of  her 
independence,  are  deeply  impressed  on  my  mind  and  will  not  be  effaced 
from  my  remembrance  or  that  of  the  citizens  of  America. 

THE  LAST  FRENCH  TROOPS  DEPART 

As  soon  as  the  terms  of  a  general  peace  were  practically 
agreed  upon  between  the  three  powers,  the  troops  of  De  I^auzun 
at  Wilmington,  Del.,  and  the  detachment  at  Baltimore  under 
General  Lavalette,  in  charge  of  the  French  artillery  and  stores 
and  the  French  sick,  moved  to  a  point  of  rendezvous  on  the 
Delaware  River,  where  they  embarked  and  sailed  from  the 
capes  on  May  12. 

From  headquarters,  two  days  before  the  transports  left  the 
Delaware,  Washington  took  occasion  to  write  to  General  L,au- 
zun a  ' '  That  viewing  the  peace  so  near  a  final  conclusion ' '  he 
could  not  hold  himself  "justified  in  a  desire  to  detain  the 
troops  under  your  command  from  the  expectations  of  their 
sovereign  or  to  prevent  their  own  wishes  of  a  return  to  their 
native  country  and  friends." 

a  Due  de  L,auzun,  who  commanded  in  America  a  legion  of  lancers  and  hussar-s 
known  by  his  name  in  the  army  of  ROCHAMBEAU,  had  gifts  of  mind  and  body,  much 
wealth,  and  valor.  In  America  he  was  one  of  the  most  popular  of  the  highly 
esteemed  officers  of  the  French  army. 

His  military  services  always  merited  commendation.  At  Lebanon,  Conn.,  when  in 
winter  quarters  with  his  legion,  he  was  well  thought  of  by  Governor  Trumbull  and  the 
distinguished  men  who  gathered  there  as  well  as  by  the  entire  population  of  the  town. 

His  services  at  Yorktown  were  of  inestimable  value  in  defeating  Tarleton,  the  relent 
less  legionary  plunderer  of  Virginia. 

When  the  auxiliary  army  sailed  for  the  West  Indies  in  December,  1782,  he  was  left 
for  a  longer  period  in  command  in  America. 

After  returning  to  France  he  accompanied  the  famous  Talleyrand  on  a  mission  to 
Kngland.  While  there  he  became  one  of  the  intimates  of  the  Prince  of  Wales,  after 
wards  George  IV. 

He  succeeded  to  the  ducal  title  by  right  upon  the  death  of  his  uncle  Duke  de  Biron. 

During  the  storms  of  the  French  Revolution,  having  been  discovered  secretly  favor 
ing  the  Vendeans,  he  was  guillotined  December  31,  1793. 

His  career  had  all  the  elements  of  romance  in  real  life.  Two  officers  of  his  regiment, 
the  brothers  Dillon,  who  commanded  the  regiment  of  that  name  under  D'Kstaing  at 
Savannah,  also  suffered  death  by  the  guillotine. 


After  Yorktown  505 

Nor  could  he  omit  to  express  to  the  duke  himself — 

and  to  all  the  brave  officers  and  soldiers  of  your  corps  the  high  esteem 
I  have  for  them  and  the  regard  I  shall  ever  entertain  for  their  services  in 
the  cause  of  the  United  States,  to  whose  independence  and  establishment 
as  a  nation  they  have  contributed  a  noble  share. 


EARLY  DOUBTS  SHATTERED  BY  EXPERIENCE 

The  early  apprehensions  of  Congress,  of  Washington  and  of 
the  people  at  large,  as  to  the  wisdom  of  permitting  a  foreign  army 
to  land  upon  American  soil,  even  in  the  interests  of  the  struggle 
against  a  hostile  sovereignty  and  in  support  of  independence 
were  at  no  time  justified  by  the  slightest  incident  of  an  unfavor 
able  nature.  And  above  all,  nor  did  France  ever  as  a  conces 
sion  in  return,  ask  an  inch  of  American  territory  for  any  pur 
pose,  nor  a  phrase  of  capitulatory  understanding  beyond  the 
usual  subjects  of  convention  between  States. 

FRENCH    IMPRESS 

The  presence  of  the  French  officers  and  soldiers  exerted  an 
influence  beyond  the  politics  of  physical  force  and  numbers,  in 
overturning  British  rule  in  the  States.  During  their  eleven 
months  in  quarters  at  Newport  and  camp  at  Providence,  R.  I., 
and  eight  months  at  Williamsburg,  Va.,  not  speaking  of  their 
camps  in  the  Highlands  of  the  Hudson,  at  Annapolis,  and  Bal 
timore,  and  marches  going  and  coming  aggregating  more  than 
1,500  miles  by  land  and  water,  and  intercourse  with  the  officers 
of  the  American  army,  they  undoubtedly  made  a  pronounced 
impression  upon  polite  life  in  general  and  gave  a  French  trend 
to  the  transition  from  Colonial  to  National,  State,  and  munici 
pal  social  institutions.  The  staff,  field,  and  line,  in  many  cases 
represented  the  very  best  nobility  of  blood  and  individual- cul 
ture  of  a  country  famed  for  etiquette,  good  breeding,  affability, 
and  address.  This  was  especially  so  with  respect  to  ROCHAM- 
BEAU,  De  Noailles,  De  Deux-Ponts,  De  Lauzun,  and  others, 
representing  the  court  life  of  the  ancient  monarchy.  It  is  one 
of  the  highest  merits  in  their  behalf  to  note  how  affably  they 


506 


After  Yorktown 


adapted  themselves  to  their  surroundings  and  mingled  with  the 
people.  The  correspondence  of  Washington  alone  is  sufficient 
testimonial  in  support  of  the  asseveration.  In  many  of  our  own 
families,  by  tradition,  correspondence,  and  heirlooms  we  have 
unmistakable  testimony  of  the  fact. 

FRENCH  ' ' AUJANCE  "  IN  MATERIAL  OF  WAR 

The  following  recapitulation  of  ships,  guns,  seamen,  regi 
ments,  men,  and  muskets  will  afford  at  a  glance  a  statistical 
view  of  the  substantial  aid  rendered  by  the  King  of  France  in 
carrying  to  success  the  war  for  American  independence: 

Recapitulation  « 

SEA  POWER 


Vessels. 

Guns. 

Officers. 

Volun 
teers. 

Crew. 

Total. 

D'Estaing's  fleet  
De  Ternay's  convoy 

26 

8 

1,394 
^8 

478 

33 
27 

11,040 

3,  939 

",55i 
4,  2J6 

De  Grasse's  flett  
De  Guichen's  contingent  with 
De  Grasse  

22 

7 

1,232 
494 

181 

151 
15 

",477 
4.433 

12,213 

4,629 

Total  

63 

3,668 

1,494 

226 

30,  889 

32,609 

a  The  basis  of  tabulation,  excepting  the  number  of  guns,  is  taken  from  "I,es  Com- 
battants  Francais  de  la  Guerre  Americaine,  1778-1783,"  a  work  compiled  by  a  commis 
sion  appointed  by  General  Porter,  president  of  the  "  Society  in  France  of  Sons  of  the 
American  Revolution^  from  the  unpublished  records  of  the  French  fleets  and  armies 
in  America,  in  the  archives  of  Paris. 

I^es  Cqmbattants  Fran?ais  was  first  published  in  French  by  the  ministry  of  foreign 
affairs,  but  being  without  index,  the  volume  was  almost  useless  for  reference.  To 
supply  this  gap  Colonel  Charlle-I^ong,  registrar,  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution  in 
France,  undertook  the  fatiguing  task  of  translation  and  indexing  (without  compensa 
tion).  The  resurrection  from  oblivion  of  the  46,000  names  of  the  French  sailors  and 
soldiers  who  .fought  for  American  independence  constitutes  a  work  of  importance  for 
the  historians  of  both  France  and  America.  The  translator  and  editor  was  ably 
seconded  by  Gen.  Thomas  Vincent,  U.  S.  Army,  Major  Beach  and  Captain  Rhodes,  of 
the  General  Staff  of  the  Army,  and  particularly  by  Mr.  W.  B.  Turner,  printing  clerk  of 
the  Senate,  who  prepared  the  French  and  English  texts  for  publication  as  Seriate  Doc 
ument  No.  77. 


After  Yorktown 

Recapitulation — Conti  nued . 

FORCES 


507 


Officers. 

Men. 

Total. 

D'Estaing  (1778-79). 
Regiments: 

14 

407 

511 

ii 

346 

357 

De  Dillon      

64 

I,  IOO 

i,  164 

De  Walsh 

S2 

500 

532 

Total  land  army                  .           

121 

2,  443 

2,  564 

Rochambeau  (1780-1783) 
Regiments: 

69 

I    22O 

Soissonnais                  

65 

i,  185 

I,  250 

65 

i  257 

I    ^22 

Royal  Deux-Ponts  

63 

I,  IOO 

I,  163 

Auxonne   2  battalions                                                

53 

548 

60  1 

40 

302 

•3CI 

Grenoble   i  company                                   .         

5 

60 

65 

10 

300 

3IO 

Hussars,  2  companies  

10 

300 

310 

Total 

?8q 

6  20^ 

6  592 

De  Grasse  (1781) 
Regiments: 

66 

I    IOO 

i,  166 

Tourahie   

58 

i)  239 

i,  297 

Gatinais  (  Royal  Auvergne)    

63 

i,  061 

Total 

iS? 

"\  T>V7 

•3     C24 

Entire  strength  of  land  forces  sent  by  the  King  of  France  to  render  aid  to 
the  United  States  in  their  struggle  for  independence, 


Officers. 

Men. 

Total. 

D'  Kstaing  

121 

2.  443 

2,  564 

-189 

6  203 

6  592 

De  Grasse  

187 

3,  337 

3,524 

Grand  total 

607 

ii  983 

12   680 

This  is  exclusive  of  the  ' '  garrisons ' '  of  infantry  on  the  ves 
sels  of  the  fleet,  taking  the  place  of  marines  of  the  present  day, 
there  being  from  100  to  150  men  on  each  of  the  larger  vessels, 
nor  does  it  take  into  account  drafts  sent  to  repair  casualties. 


508  After  York  town 

GRAND   TOTAL 

The  entire  strength  of  the  land  and  naval  armies  sent  by 
France  to  the  assistance  of  the  American  States,  1778—1783: 
Thirty-five  battalions  of  grenadiers  and  infantry,  7  companies 
of  artillery,  2  companies  of  lancers,  2  companies  of  hussars — 
total,  12,680  officers  and  men;  63  ships  of  the  line,  frigates, 
and  smaller  vessels  of  war,  exclusive  of  transports,  carrying 
3,668  guns  and  32,609  officers  and  men. 

Total  of  land  and  sea  forces  of  France,  cooperating  with  or 
auxiliary  to  war-like  operations  in  the  States,  45,289  officers 
and  men. 

Thirty-six  transports  conveying  the  auxiliary  army  of  Count 
DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  manned  approximately  by. 2, 700  navigating 
and  petty  officers  and  crew. 

Total  military,  naval  and  transport  service  of  France  in  the 
States:  Men,  47,989;  vessels  of  war  and  transports,  99. 

RATING   OF   SHIPS 

In  the  classification  of  vessels  of  war,  in  the  fleets  of  D'Ks- 
taing,  De  Ternay,  and  De  Grasse,  the  ship  of  the  line  corre 
sponded  to  the  modern  battle  ship,  having  large  propelling  power 
and  powerful  batteries  in  number  of  guns,  caliber  and  range, 
velocity,  and  weight  of  metal. 

A  ship  of  the  line  of  the  L'Annibal  (Hannibal)  class  with  a 
complete  quota  of  officers  and  full  complement  of  seamen  of  all 
classes  and  equipment  of  guns,  was  one  of  the  most  formidable 
fighting  craft  of  the  day  afloat. 

In  the  French  fleets  sent  to  assist  the  States  in  their  first 
struggle  with  England  were  ships  of  the  line  of  the  highest 
class,  with  crews  of  500  to  1,100,  and  60  to  100  guns. 

The  frigates  of  these  fleets,  like  all  vessels  of  that  rate  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  and  beginning  of  the  nineteenth 
centuries,  were  the  coordinate  of  the  cruiser  of  the  close  of  the 
nineteenth  and  beginning  of  the  twentieth  centuries,  being  rapid 
sailers.  They  were  usually  manned  by  from  250  to  400  officers 
and  seamen  and  mounted  from  30  to  60  guns  of  all  calibers  on 


After  Yorktown  509 

an  upper  and  lower  deck  or  on  the  main  deck,  and  raised  quar 
ter  and  forecastle  decks. 

The  smaller  vessels  of  the  sloop  or  frigate  rate,  corvettes, 
cutters,  and  tenders,  were  few  in  number  and  held  but  an  un 
important  place  in  these  fleets  owing  to  limited  sail  area  and 
inability  to  operate  efficiently  with  the  larger  craft,  which  were 
of  the  very  best  design,  construction,  equipment,  and  command, 
and  wherever  engaged  in  not  too  great  disparity  were  more  than 
a  match  for  the  enemy. 

FRENCH  "ALLIANCE"  IN  COIN 

The  financing  of  the  American  revolution  by  France  is  the 
most  remarkable  instance  of  its  kind  in  the  history  of  nations. 
When  the  cash  was  advanced  and  the  costly  fleets  and  armies 
were  sent  to  America  at  the  sole  expense  of  the  French  King, 
no  encouraging  indications  were  in  sight  that  he  would  ever 
receive  a  cent  in  return.  The  trend  of  events  at  the  time  were 
decidedly  in  the  opposite  direction.  In  addition,  the  failure 
of  the  States  was  likely  to  bear  heavily  upon  the  fortunes  of 
France. 

The  last  British  army  in  the  field  having  surrendered,  it  was 
not  until  the  conclusion  of  the  preliminary  treaty  of  peace 
(November  30,  1782)  was  in  sight  that  a  convention  was 
arranged  (July  16,  1782)  "for  making  a  particular  statement 
of  the  amount  of  pecuniary  supplies  furnished  by  France  to 
the  United  States  advanced  under  the  title  of  a  loan  1778,  1779, 
1780,  1781,  1782,"  amounting  to  the  sum  of  18,000,000  livres 
in  the  money  of  France,  approximately  $3,600,000  in  the  money 
of  the  United  States. 

Again  in  need  of  funds  to  go  into  business  as  an  independent 
State,  before  the  conclusion  of  the  definitive  treaty  of  peace 
(September  3,  1783),  another  convention  (February  25,  1783) 
was  arranged  between  France  and  the  United  States  "  for  a  new 
advance  of  six  million  of  livres  tournois  "  as  a  loan,  on  the 
guarantee  of  the  whole  thirteen  United  States,  which  the  Con 
gress  ' '  declared  acceptance  of  with  the  liveliest  acknowledg 
ment  in  the  name  of  the  said  States. ' ' 


510  After  Yorktown 

The  cash  output  of  France,  therefore,  in  behalf  of  American 
independence,  aggregated  a  sum  far  greater  than  the  States 
possessed  in  coin  of  their  own  of  any  kind  during  the  entire 
contest,  almost  every  dollar  of  it  spent  within  their  borders. 

The  livre,  "money  of  France"  (18^  sous),  18,0x30,000  was 
equivalent  to  $3,333,333  coin- 

The  livre  tournois  (20  sous),  6,000,000  to  about  $1,200,000 
coin. 

In  the  ' '  paper ' '  of  the  United  States,  emitted  by  Congress  in 
bills  of  credit  for  the  defense  of  America  known  as  ' '  Conti 
nental  money,"  the  value  of  these  French  loans  was  beyond 
computation.  In  February,  ,1778,  the  month  of  the  treaty  of 
"alliance,"  $100  in  specie  was  rated  at  $350  in  Continental 
paper.  In  the  year  of  ROCHAMBEAU'S  arrival  specie  had  gone 
up  $100  coin  to  $7,400  paper.  In  the  month  of  Yorktown 
'Continental  paper  was  without  even  promissory  value. 

To  these  advances  must  be  added  the  minimum  daily  cost  of 
the  maintenance  of  the  force  of  ships,  men,  and  material,  approxi 
mately,  while  in  American  waters,  as  follows: 

D'Estaing,  Newport,  R.  I.,  and  Boston,  Mass.,  $30,000  per  day 

July  8  to  November  4,  1778,  119  days ...  $3,  5/0,  ooo 

D'Estaing,  Savannah,  Ga.,  expedition,  September  3  to  Octo 
ber  10,  1779,  27  days.  (This  does  not  include  voyage  from 
the  West  Indies  and  return) : 810,  ooo 

Ternay  (navy)  and  ROCHAMBEAU  (army),  Brest,  France,  to 
Newport,  R.  I.;  Highlands  of  the  Hudson,  N.  Y.;  Yorktown 
and  Williamsburg,  Va. ;  Boston,  Mass.,  April  13,  1780,  De 
cember  24,  1782,  985  days 29,  550,  ooo 


Total,  fleets  and  armies 33,  930,  coo 

Advances  in  cash 4,  533,  333 


Total  war  outlay  and  advances  in  cash  by  France 38,  463,  333 

The  loans  having  been  refunded,  would  still  leave  an  outlay 
°f  $33,930,000,  for  which  the  French  King  received  no, substan 
tial  return  whatever. 

The  figures  as  a  whole  are  an  underestimate,  considering  the 
purchasing  power  of  money  then  and  now.  The  equivalent 
would  not  fall  short  of  $50,000,000  current  value  as  the  invest 
ment  of  France  in  support  of  the  States. 


UNITED  STATES  FRANCE 

1 783  :  WASHINGTON  :  1 799      f$f      1 783  :  ROCH AMBEAU  :  1 807 
MOUNT  VERNON  VENDOME 


512 


ROCHAMBEAU  AT  COURT 


Immediately  upon  landing  Count  de  ROCHAMBEAU  attended 
by  his  military  entourage  proceeded  to  Versailles  to  officially 
announce  his  return  and  make  report  of  the  closing  events  of 
his  services  in  the  States.  The  King  received  the  veteran  with 
distinguished  consideration,  and  expressed  in  terms  in  the 
course  of  the  audience  that  it  was  to  his  exertions  and  the  cap 
ture  of  Cornwallis's  army  he  owed  peace  with  England.  The 
Count  begged  of  the  King  to  divide  his  eulogium  with  the  man 
now  in  misfortune  through  the  chances  of  war,  assuring  him 
De  Grasse  had  come  to  his  aid  upon  a  simple  request,  and  with 
out  his  cooperation  he  could  not  have  accomplished  the  achieve 
ment  which  merited  the  royal  approval. 

The  King  replied  he  would  never  forget  the  services  ren 
dered  by  De  Grasse  in  concert  with  the  operations  at  Yorktown. 
What  had  happened  since  remained  yet  to  be  judged. 

ROY  A  I,    FAVOR 

The  next  day  the  King  sent  for  ROCHAMBEAU,  receiving 
him  in  his  bedchamber,  where  he  personally  invested  him  with 
the  blue  (coidon  bleu,  or  knighthood  in  the  order  of  Saint 
Esprit,  the  most  coveted  of  all)  instead  of  the  red  ribbon.  He 
also  designated  him  governor  of  Picardy. 

PROMOTIONS    FOR    SERVICE    IN    AMERICA 

As  an  additional  evidence  of  approbation  the  King  granted 
every  request  the  Count  solicited  for  the  general  and  line  offi 
cers,  subalterns,  and  soldiers  who  had  served  under  him.  Baron 
Viomenil  was  promoted  to  lieutenant-general;  Lafayette  (in  the 
American  army),  Choisy,  Beville,  Custine,  Lauzun,  Rostaing, 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1  -  33  513 


514  Rochambeau  at  Court 

and  Autichamps  to  major-generals;  d' Abbeville,  Desandrouin, 
L,avallette,  L'Estrade,  Duportail  (in  the  American  army),  and 
Marquis  de  Deux- Fonts  to  brigadier;  and  all  lieutenant-colonels 
to  full  colonelcies.  Vicomte  de  Rochambeau  was  made  Chev 
alier  de  St.  L<ouis  and  mestre  de  camp,  and  assigned  to  the  com 
mand  of  Regiment  Saintonge  and  subsequently  of  Regiment 
Royal  Auvergne. 

SOLDIERS    REMEMBERED 

All  the  soldiers  of  the  auxiliary  army  were  granted  a  donative 
of  three  months'  pay. 

ROCHAMBEAU    ON    WASHINGTON. 

In  his  memoirs  ROCHAMBEAU  comments  eloquently  upon 
the  closing  scenes  of  his  experiences,  and  pays  a  high  tribute 
to  his  American  commander  in  chief  of  the  allied  armies, 
General  Washington. 

After  the  departure  of  the  French  army  from  American  soil, 
Washington  lived  sixteen  and»RoCHAMBEAU  twenty-four  years. 
The  former  became  President  of  the  States  he  had  with  the 
assistance  of  his  companion  in  arms  brought  into  existence 
as  a  sovereign  power;  the  latter,  governor  of  a  province  and 
marshal  of  France. 

RETURN   OF   THE   ARMY 

Upon  the  return  of  the  auxiliaries  to  France  the  superior 
officers  received  assignments  in  recognition  of  their  services 
in  the  States,  the  same  as  if  performed  in  the  line  of  duty  in 
France. 

PLEASANT    MEMORIES 

The  feeling  of  admiration  which  had  grown  up  among  the 
officers  and  men  for  their  American  chief  was  reflected  mainly 
in  the  correspondence  between  ROCHAMBEAU  and  Washington. 
While  their  letters  were  not  frequent,  judged  from  present-day 
methods,  they  were  sufficiently  so  for  the  conveniences  of  the 


Rochambeau  at  Court  515 

times.  The  most  important  subject  of  correspondence,  and  one 
calculated  to  keep  alive  the  memory  of  the  deeds  of  the  brave 
men  of  Bourbonnais,  Soissonnais,  Agenois,  and  the  other  regi 
ments  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  of  Saint-Simon,  was  the  military 
order  of  the  Cincinnati  which  the  American  officers  had  very 
much  at  heart,  and  into  which  the  French  officers,  by  permission 
of  their  King,  entered  with  so  much  zest. 

THE    CINCINNATI    IN    FRANCE 

In  1783  ROCHAMBEAU  instituted  the  French  branch  of  the 
order,  and  with  the  approval  of  the  King  nominated  its  mem 
bers.  The  story  of  this  part  of  his  useful  life  is  replete  with 
interest,  exemplifying  a  phase  of  the  friendship  of  the  King 
for  America  and  its  institutions  which  is  not  publicly  shown  in 
his  acts  of  military  and  naval  cooperation. 

As  this  order  became  a  bond  of  mutual  devotion  among  the 
officers,  'so  it  became  the  reminiscent  tie  which  held  in  common 
remembrance  the  heroic  days  of  the  alliance. 

The  influence  and  importance  of  this  feature  in  the  affairs  of 
France  and  the  States  at  the  time  is  shown  in  a  more  extended 
treatment  in  the  chapter  on  the  Order  of  the  Cincinnati. 

ROCHAMBEAU   IN   ENGLAND 

After  the  conclusion  of  peace  the  Government  and  people  of 
England  signally  honored  ROCHAMBEAU  during  a  visit.  The 
Count,  referring  to  the  occasion,  says: 

I  took  advantage  during  an  instant  of  calm  for  a  visit  of  twelve  days 
in  England.  A  leave  so  short  only  permitted  me  to  see  London  and  its 
surroundings  and  Portsmouth.  I  was  received  at  the  latter  port  by 
Admiral  Hood,  against  whom  I  had  made  war.  He  treated  me  with  great 
distinction,  all  military  honors,  and  salutes  from  all  the  vessels.  He 
allowed  me  to  see  all  the  fortifications  of  Portsmouth  with  the  same  facility 
as  if  I  were  reviewing  those  of  Calais.  I  followed  with  curiosity  the  road 
'which  I  was  to  take  at  the  head  of  the  grenadiers  of  the  French  army  in 
the  descent  we  were  to  make  upon  England  in  1779.  I  recognized  the 
accuracy  of  the  reconnoissance  which  was  made  at  the  time  by  M.  M.  de 
Paradis  and  Bertois,  lieutenant-colonels  of  engineers. 


516  Rochambeau  at  Court 

DISTINGUISHED    CONSIDERATION    BY    POST 

In  a  letter  of  December,  1783,  D'Estaing  favored  Washington 
with  a  reminder  of  his  admiration  of  his  person  and  character, 
to  which  the  General  replied  in  reciprocation,  referring  to  the 
Count  as  a  gentleman  and  a  soldier  for  whose  attention  to  the 
American  interests  and  cause  he  was  impressed  with  the  highest 
veneration. 

A  correspondence  of  more  than  perfunctory  interest  was 
maintained  by  ROCHAMBEAU  and  D'Estaing  011  the  subject 
of  the  "Cincinnati"  in  France,  which  explains  itself  in  that 
connection.  De  Chastellux  sent  a  short  letter  by  L,' Enfant, 
which  came  to  hand  at  Mount  Vernon;  answered  in  June,  1784. 

In  August  ensuing  Lafayette,  who  had  returned  to  the  States 
and  reached  Mount  Vernon  on  the  i7th,  brought  a  letter  from 
ROCHAMBEAU  dated  June  16,  one  of  May  4  having  been  received 
about  the  same  time. 

In  the  first  of  these  the  Count  apprised  his  former  American 
chief  of  his  appointment  as  governor  of  Picardy.  He  omitted 
to  mention  two  paintings  presented  to  him  representing  the 
capture  of  Yorktown,  and  the  English  army  defiling  before 
the  victorious  troops — the  Americans  under  Washington  and 
the  French  under  ROCHAMBEAU. 

In  expressing  his  congratulations,  Washington  regarded  the 
promotion  as — 

an  honorable  testimony  of  the  approbation  of  your  prince  and  a  just 
reward  of  your  services  and  merit.  Should  fortune  ever  put  it  in  my 
power  to  come  to  France,  your  being  at  Calais  would  be  an  irresistible 
inducement  for  me  to  make  it  a  visit. 

FRANKLIN    BRINGS   A    LETTER 

At  the  moment  of  taking  leave  of  Doctor  Franklin  in  June, 
1785,  ROCHAMBEAU  took  opportunity  for  another  "renewal 
of  friendship,"  to  which  Washington  replied  December  i, 
observing — 

short  of  nothing  but  the  satisfaction  I  should  feel  at  seeing  you,  and  the 
recollection  of  the  hours  in  which  toiling  together  we  formed  our  friend 
ship,  a  friendship  which  I  hope  will  continue  as  long  as  we  shall  be  actors 
on  the  present  theater. 


COMTE  DE  ROCHAMBEAU 
Marshal  of  France 


\ri 

- 

In  Januan 

ington  of  Kuropean  politics  arid  conditions  in  Fran 
the  Gene 

l  n 

replete  with  the 

frienr  leinenilu 

circumstances  • 
together,  and  1 
information  as  in  n^ 
can  not  fa. 

letter  from  f  June  2 

May   12 

In  the 

gavt-  iint  of  politics  in  thai 

Of  tb«  criM*  "against  %tfft' ^  ROCHAMBEAU 

FOK  'V/<"   ' 

:  inovemenls  in  France 
therefo:  to  the  Count  his 

i>een 

productive  of  good.     He  also  hoped  the  period  was  not  far 
distant  when  the  union  of  Statevs  "will  make  a  more  respec 
figtr  -yes  of  Europe  than  it  has  hitherto  done." 

He  was  confident  when  .,  formed  by  the  late 

coin 

we  shall  n 
which  wa; 
shall  likt- 


In  'imt  adv                        ^ton 
ofthede. 

sorrow  t  •  .jutor  in  the  capture  of  C 

wall;  is  not  perhaps  so  mi 


CO  M 

Mv 


Rochumbeau  at  Court  517 

EUROPEAN    POLITICS 

In  January  and  March  of  1786,  ROCHAMBEAU  wrote  Wash 
ington  of  European  politics  and  conditions  in  France,  of  which 
the  General  observed: 

I  need  scarcely  tell  you  that  your  communications  ever  afford  me  the 
sincerest  gratification,  because  they  are  always  replete  with  the  most 
friendly  sentiments;  because  they  insensibly  bring  to  remembrance  some 
circumstances  of  that  pleasing  and  important  period  we  so  happily  passed 
together,  and  because  you  frequently  have  it  in  your  power  to  give  such 
information  as  in  my  present  retirement  from  the  busy  and  political  world 
can  not  fail  of  being  acceptable  to  me. 

A  letter  from  the  Count  of  June  28,  1786,  and  another  of 
May  12,  1787,  found  answer  from  Mount  Vernon  Januarj^  8, 
1788. 

In  the  first,  the  Count  had  just  returned  from  Holland,  and 
gave  an  account  of  politics  in  that  country  and  the  termination 
of  the  crisis  "  against  the  patriots." 

FORERUNNERS   OP   REVOLUTION 

The  interest  of  Washington  in  political  movements  in  France 
was  especially  intense,  he  therefore  expressed  to  the  Count  his 
satisfaction  in  hearing  the  "Assemblee  des  Notables  "  had  been 
productive  of  good.  He  also  hoped  the  period  was  not  far 
distant  when  the  union  of  States  "  will  make  a  more  respectable 
figure  in  the  eyes  of  Europe  than  it  has  hitherto  done." 

He  was  confident  when  the  Constitution,  formed  by  the  late 
convention  (1787),  should  be  established— 

we  shall  regain  the  confidence  and  credit  among  the  European  powers, 
which  want  of  energy  in  the  present  confederation  has  deprived  us  of,  and 
shall  likewise  feel  the  benefit  of  the  commercial  and  political  advantages 
which  our  situation  holds  out  to  us. 

DEATH   OF    DE    GRASSE 

In  a  letter  of  January,  1788,  the  Count  advised  Washington 
of  the  death  of  De  Grasse.  In  reply  (April  28)  he  expressed  his 
sorrow  to  learn'  "our  gallant  coadjutor  in  the  capture  of  Corn- 
wallis  is  no  more.  Yet  his  death  is  not  perhaps  so  much  to  be 


518  Rochambeau  at  Court 

deplored  as  his  latter  days  were  to  be  pitied. ' '  A  more  extended 
account  of  sympathy  for  this  unfortunate  hero  is  contained  in  a 
sketch  of  his  life. 

AFFAIRS   IN    FRANCE 

A  letter  of  June  15,  1788,  from  the  Count  did  not  reach 
Mount  Vernon  until  six  months  later,  January,  1789.  This 
communication  was  important  as  giving  an  inside  view  of  the 
condition  of  affairs  in  France  immediately  preceding  the  clash 
of  the  Revolution.  In  giving  his  opinion  of  the  King,  Wash 
ington  wrote: 

The  upright  intentions  which  I  have  always  been  taught  to  believe  were 
possessed  by  the  present  King  of  France  and  the  unbounded  affection 
which  the  inhabitants  of  that  country  are  accustomed  to  entertain  for  their 
monarch  have  persuaded  me  that  affairs  will  all  go  right  and  that  the  tem 
porary  derangement  will  ultimately  terminate  in  the  permanent  welfare  of 
the  Kingdom. 

This  letter  is  a  long  one  and  shows  how  the  two  men  inter 
changed  views  for  mutual  enlightenment  on  politics  on  two 
hemispheres. 

THE   STATES   IN   A   PLEASJNG   STRAIN 

In  January  and  February  of  1789  ROCHAMBEAU  wrote  to  his 
former  American  chief  concerning  the  affairs  of  France,  but 
Washington,  then  President  of  the  United  States,  owing  to  "a 
tedious  indisposition"  and  "numerous  avocations  since,"  had 
no  "leisure  for  the  agreeable  duties  of  friendship"  until  the 
following  October.  In  his  reply  he  spoke  of  the  ' '  pleasure  of 
renewing  the  intercourse"  and  to  enhance  his  satisfaction  by 
telling  him  ' '  the  political  affairs  of  the  United  States  are  in  so 
pleasing  a  train  as  to  promise  respectability  to  their  Government 
and  happiness  to  our  citizens. ' ' 

AN  EARNEST  PRAYER  FOR  FRANCE 

•  He  also  expressed  the  deepest  concern  in  the  Revolution  in 
France  and  expressed  as  the  sentiment  of  his  fellow -citizens  an 
earnest  prayer  "that  it  may  terminate  in  the  permanent  honor 
and  prosperity  of  the  Government  and  people." 


CHATEAU    DE   ROCHAMBEAU   AT  TORE   NEAR  VENDOME,    FRANCE. 


CHATEAU   DE   ROCHAMBEAU  AT  TORE   NEAR  VENDOME,   FRANCE. 
FACADE  ON  THE  LOIRE. 


Rochambeau  at  Court 


D'ESTAING  PRESENTS  TENNANT 


519 


*  In  May  Comte  D'Kstaing  seized  the  opportunity  of  the 
voyage  of  M.  de  Tennant  to  the  United  States,  as  the  diplomatic 
representative  of  republican  France,  to  present  that  functionary 
to  President  Washington. 

WELFARE    OF    FRANCE    DEAR 

In  reply,  commenting  upon  the  upheaval  in  France,  he  wrote: 
The  welfare  of  the  French  nation  can  not  but  be  dear  to  this  country, 
and  that  its  happiness  may  in  the  end  be  established  on  the  most  perma 
nent  and  liberal  foundation  is  the  ardent  wish  of  every  true  American,  and 
of  none  more  sincerely  than  of  him  who  has  the  honor  to  be,  etc. 

GOVERNOR    OF    PICARDY 

In  his  civil  capacity  as  governor  of  a  province  ROCHAMBEAU 
served  five  years  (1784-1789),  winning  laurels  as  he  had  in 
war.  From  this  post  (1788-89)  he  was  transferred  to  Alsace 
to  restore  order.  During  the  uproar  which  preceded  and  inau 
gurated  the  popular  tumult  in  France,  he  maintained  order 
in  this  troubled  section  by  the  equanimity  and  solidity  of  his 
character. 

AGAIN    IN    MILITARY    COMMAND 

In  1790  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  army  of  the 
north.  In  this  post  he  displayed  the  same  genius  for  meeting 
difficult  situations  as  he  had  in  the  States. 

In  1791  in  consideration  of  his  loyalty  he  was  exalted  by  the 
King  to  the  military  dignity  of  marshal  of  France. 

In  1792  he  favored  a  defensive  campaign  in  event  of  war  with 
Germany  as  better  for  France  under  existing  conditions",  but  the 
councils  of  the  Government,  influenced  by  Dumouriez,  decided 

otherwise. 

t 

SAVED    THE    DAY    AT    QUIVERAN 

The  desperate  clash  at  Quiveran  would  have  witnessed  the 
obliteration  of  Dumouriez  and  the  complete  rout  of  the  French 
army,  but  for  the  loyal  veteran  of  the  war  in  the  American 
States  hastening  to  the  rescue  with  three  regiments  and  eight 
cannon. 


520  Rochambeau  at  Court 

RETIRES   TO   VENDOME 

In  June  of  the  same  year,  dissatisfied  with  the  treatment  he  was 
receiving  from  men  manifestly  unfit  for  such  a  crisis,  the  hero 
of  Yorktown  resigned  and  retired  to  his  estate  near  Vendome. 

THE   REVOLUTION 

On  August  10,  1792,  came  the  outbreak  of  the  revolution, 
the  storming  of  the  Tuileries,  collapse  of  the  monarchy  and 
rise  of  the  so-called  Republic. 

IN   THE   SHADOW   OF   THE    GUILLOTINE 

The  "Terror"  found  ROCHAMBEAU  in  peaceful  retirement, 
yet  he  was  carried  to  Paris  and  imprisoned  in  the  Conciergerie 
upon  a  trumped  up  charge.  His  American  cannon  were  seized 
by  the  mob  and  converted  into  coin.  After  an  imprisonment 
of  months,  upon  his  own  demand  he  was  summoned  before 
the  tribunal,  with  every  prospect  of  terminating  his  brilliant 
life  on  the  guillotine.  The  Ninth  Thermidor,  1793,  which 
witnessed  the  downfall  and  death  of  Robespierre,  sta}7ed  fur 
ther  proceedings.  He  was  released  and  returned  once  more  to 
his  chateau  on  the  Loire,  where  he  lived  the  life  of  a  quiet 
observer  of  the  tragic  events  being  enacted  about  him  by  his 
country  and  countrymen. 

MARSHAL!  BEHOLD  YOUR  PUPILS 

The  rise  of  Bonaparte  was  the  opportunity  of  men  of  merit. 
In  1803,  when  presented  to  the  first  consul,  Bonaparte,  within 
hearing  of  a  group  of  his  most  distinguished  generals,  addressed 
him  "Marshal,  behold  your  pupils."  To  which  ROCHAMBEAU 
replied,  "General,  the  pupils  have  surpassed  their  master." 

Bonaparte,  who  knew  how  to  appreciate  real  military  merit, 
in  1 804  conferred  upon  the  veteran  the  cordon  of  grand  .officer 
of  the  Legion  of  Honor  and  granted  him  the  pension  of  marshal 
of  France. 

The  evening  of  his  days  were  passed  at  his  chateau,  devoted 
to  the  preparation  of  the  material  and  writing  of  his  memoirs 
and  other  congenial  occupations,  pursuits,  and  diversions. 


Rochambeau  at  Court  521 

CHATEAU    ROCHAMBEAU 

The  Chateau  de  Rochambeau  stands  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
small  but  picturesque  riyer  Loire,  near  Vendome,  on  the  road 
to  Chateau  de  I,oir.  It  is  approached  by  an  avenue  2  miles 
long,  skirted  on  either  side  by  towering  lindens.  Within  the 
chaceairare  preserved  the  relics  of  the  soldier  famous  in  the 
wars  of  two  continents.  Here  are  held  in  sacred  memory  the 
sword  he  wore  in  the  campaigns  for  the  States,  the  portrait  of 
his  American  commander  in  chief,  by  Peale,  presented  to  him 
by  his  American  companion  in  arms,  the  marshal's  baton 
bestowed  upon  him  by  the  King,  and  his  many  orders  won  by 
the  merit  of  his  natural  and  acquired  endowments  and  the 
heroic  deeds  of  his  sword.  The  room  which  he  occupied,  and 
in  which  he  died,  is  also  cherished  with  its  rich  embroideries, 
done  by  his  countess  with  her  own  hands,  while  her  count  was 
vigorously  upholding  the  cause  of  the  States  beyond  the  sea. 

MILITARY   LESSONS   LEARNED   IN   AMERICA 

In  January,  1797,  CoUnt  Dumas,  who  had  served  in  America 
on  the  staff  of  ROCHAMBEAU,  and  now  a  general  in  rank, 
sent  to  Washington  a  pamphlet  on  the  military  situation  in 
France.  In  his  letter  of  transmittal  he  makes  this  interesting 
reference : 

Your  excellency  will  observe  in  it  the  effect  of  your  lessons  and  perhaps 
also  the  true  character  of  public  opinion  in  France. 

He  also  mentions  his  former  chief  as  still  at  his  country  seat 
at  Vendome,  where  he  enjoys — 

tolerably  good  health  considering  his  great  age,  and  reckons,  as  well  as 
does  his  military  family,  among  his  most  dear  _and  glorious  remem 
brances  that  of  the  time  we  had  the  honor  to  serve  under  your  command. 

In  his  reply  Washington,  regretting  not  having  heard  from 
the  Count  for  some  years,  was  glad  to  hear  he  was  still  alive, 
adding: 

If  it  should  fall  in  your  way  at  any  time  to  recall  me  to  his  remem 
brance  by  the  presentation  of  my  best  regards  to  him,  which  I  pray  you  to 
accept  also  yourself,  it  would  oblige  me. 


522  Rochambean  at  Court 

DUTY    CONFRONTS    GRATITUDE 

During  the  Presidency  of  Washington,  greatly  to  his  distress, 
the  relations  between  the  two  countries  became  somewhat  critic 
ally  strained  upon  a  question  which,  with  all  his  sense  of  obli 
gation  of  the  States  to  France,  he  could  not  concede.  It  was  a 
question  of  international  policy,  which  has  ever  since  been  a 
fundamental  principle  of  intercourse  with  foreign  powers — 
avoidance  of  entangling  alliances. 

NATURE   OF   THE    CONTENTION 

In  the  conflict  which  had  broken  out  between  England  and 
France,  growing  out  of  the  disturbances  in  the  latter  country, 
the  American  people  stood  overwhelmingly  with  their  old  ally 
and  were  urgent  to  take  sides,  in  so  much  that  President  Wash 
ington  had  difficult)7  in  maintaining  neutrality.  Genet,  the 
French  minister  to  the  United  States,  exceeded  the  limits  of 
international  law  so  far  as  to  fit  out  privateers  in  American 
ports  to  prey  upon  British  commerce. 

The  United  States,  not  yet  able  to  meet  its  financial  obliga 
tions  of  long  standing,  and  in  every  respect  in  no  condition  for 
war,  obliged  Washington,  as  the  only  way  to  preserve  peace,  to 
request  the  recall  of  the  minister. 

A  culmination  was  reached  under  the  Adams  Administration 
when  the  French  Directory,  representing  the  license  of  the 
French  Revolution,  began  to  heap  insults  upon  the  American 
flag,  seized  American  vessels  on  the  high  seas  and  refused  audi 
ence  to  the  American  envoys  without  a  bribe. 

These  high-handed  acts  at  once  silenced  the  popular  insistency 
in  behalf  of  France.  No  alternative  remained  but  war,  and 
Washington,  then  in  private  life,  was  called  to  the  somewhat 
anomalous  attitude  of  head  of  the  army  which  was  ordered  to 
be  raised  to  fight  America '.s  former  ally.  Active  hostilities  had 
already  begun  on  the  sea,  in  which  the  infant  navy  showed 
remarkable  vitality.  The  overthrow  of  the  revolutionary  chiefs 
and  rise  of  Napoleon  to  first  consul  of  France  not  only  put  a 
stop  to  these  unfortunate  relations,  but  gave  a  rebound  to  the 
latent  love  and  gratitude  of  all  true  Americans. 


Rochambeau  at  Court  523 

The  unrest  of  the  masses  of  France,  whether  an  effect  of  the 
American  cause  or  a  coincidence  of  the  result  of  their  conten 
tion  for  liberty,  materialized  in  the  National  Assembly  of  the 
Three  Estates,  the  assembly  of  the  people,  and  finally  in  the 
destruction  of  the  Bastile  on  July  14,  1789.  Six  years  had 
elasped  since  the  conclusion  of  the  struggle  of  the  thirteen 
American  States  in  which  the  King  of  France  had  been  so 
instrumental  of  success. 

The  latter  culmination  of  popular  fury  was  the  beginning  of 
license,  in  the  name  of  liberty  and  terror,  in  the  guise  of  govern 
ment  which  history  calls  the  "  French  Revolution."  Without 
discriminating  between  their  own  orderly  conflict  with  the 
Crown  and  Parliament  of  Britain  and  the  excesses  of  the  upris 
ing  in  Paris,  the  citizens  of  the  American  States  took  sides  with 
the  masses  in  France.  The  blow  aimed  at  England  served  to 
flame  the  intensity  of  desire  on  their  part  £o  make  common 
cause  with  their  former  allies. 

The  course  pursued  by  Great  Britain  since  the  treaty  of  1783 
was  not  calculated  to  win  friends  among  the  American  people, 
that  power  having  refused  to  surrender  the  western  posts,  as 
was  solemnly  stipulated,  and  the  violation  of  which  involved  the 
western  frontier  in  brutal  massacres  and  savage  war. 

These  might  be  reasons,  but  were  no  sufficient  cause  to  involve 
the  United  States  in  a  second  war  before  fully  recovering  from 
the  impoverishment  of  the  first.  On  the  ground  of  obligation 
under  the  pact  of  1778,  the  question  was  how  far  the  govern 
ment  of  the  United  States  was  in  honor  bound  to  assist  France 
under  the  offensive  and  defensive  stipulations  of  the  Alliance. 

President  Washington  insisted  upon  neutrality,  and  with  the 
advice  of  his  Cabinet,  April  22,  1793,  issued  his  historic  procla 
mation  to  that  effect  drafted  by  Secretary  Jefferson. 

About  a  fortnight  before  (April  9),  "  Citizen"  Genet  arrived 
at  Charleston  as  minister  of  the  Revolutionary  Tribunal  of 
France.  Without  submitting  his  credentials  to  the  authorities 
at  Philadelphia,  and  being  received  in  a  decorous  and  reputable 
way,  he  began  his  career  by  sending  out  privateers  to  prey  upon 
British  commerce.  This  course  of  proceeding  was  transferring 
the  license  of  the  Commune  to  the  shores  of  the  States. 


524  Rochambeau  at  Court 

In  Philadelphia,  when  he  reached  there,  Genet  carried  mat 
ters  with  a  high  hand,  even  demanding  the  removal  of  reminis 
cent  objects  associated  with  our  former  ally  from  the  residence 
of  the  President. 

The  unfortunate  situation  is  presented  by  Edward  Everett  in 
his  Life  of  Washington. 

Although  the  utmost  gentleness  and  patience  were  observed  by  the 
Executive  of  the  United  States  in  checking  this  violation  of  their  neutrality, 
Genet  assumed  from  the  first  a  tone  of  defiance,  and  threatened  before  long 
to  appeal  from  the  Government  to  the  people.  These  insolent  demonstra 
tions  were,  of  course,  lost  upon  Washington's  firmness  and  moral  courage. 
They  distressed  but  did  not  in  the  slightest  degree  intimidate  him,  and 
their  effect  on  the  popular  mind  was  to  some  extent  neutralized  by  the  fact 
that  the  chief  measures  to  maintain  the  neutrality  of  the  country  had  been 
unanimously  advised  by  the  Cabinet,  and  that  the  duty  of  rebuking  his 
intemperate  course  had  devolved  upon  the  Secretary  of  State  (Jefferson), 
the  recognized  head  of  the  party  to  which  Genet  looked  for  sympathy. 

The  recall  of  this  agent  of  the  Commune  was  demanded  and 
complied  with.  Instead  of  returning,  however,  to  his  own 
country,  Genet  remained  in  the  United  States,  where  he  died,  a 
great  relief  to  American  sentiment,  indicating,  as  the  sequel 
did,  that  his  irregular  methods  were  not  approved  at  home. 
Otherwise  Genet  was  a  man  of  parts,  popular  and  regretted. 

Robespierre,  who  was  at  the  head  of  affairs  during  the 
period  known  as.  the  Terror,  met  his  own  fate  at  the  guillo 
tine  the  following  year  (July  28,  1794).  But  for  this  timely 
event  it  may  be  added,  as  recorded  elsewhere,  our  friend,  com 
panion  of  Washington  and  commander  of  the  French  forces  in 
the  war  ^for  American  liberty,  would  have  met  that  dastardly 
fate,  for  no  crime  nor  even  cause  of  complaint  whatever. 

The  course  of  the  French  Directory,  which  began  operations 
November' i,  1795,  succeeding  the  regime  of  the  Terror,  gave 
another  unfavorable  turn  to  the  relations  between  the  two 
countries. 

On  October  4,  1797,  President  Adams  named  three  commis 
sioners  to  France.  Upon  their  arrival  at  Paris,  in  the  midst  of 
the  most  delicate  negotiations,  having  been  anonymously  com 
municated  with  in  the  celebrated  X  Y  Z  letters  asking  bribes 
for  the  Directory,  which  were  refused,  they  were  summarily 


Rochambeau  at  Court  525 

ordered  out  of  France.  Pinckney,  one  of  the  commissioners, 
replied  in  the  famous  epigram,  "Millions  for  defense,  not  one 
cent  for  tribute." 

In  the  face  of  such  performances  no  self-respecting  govern 
ment,  even  held  by  the  closest  ties  of  obligation,  could  pursue 
any  other  course.  Congress  authorized  the  raising  of  a  provi 
sional  army  of  10,000  men,  of  which  former  President  Wash 
ington  was  made  lieutenant-general.  Congress  also  authorized 
the  President  to  instruct  commanders  of  United  States  ships 
of  war  to  seize  French  armed  vessels  found  attacking  American 
merchantmen,  or  hovering  about  the  coast  for  that  purpose. 
On  June  12,  1798,  commercial  intercourse  was  suspended. 
Washington  assumed  command  June  17,  1798,  to  hold  the  peace 
with  France,  as  twenty-two  years  before  he  held  the  wage  of 
wrar  with  England. 

Three  days  later,  as  a  formal  justification  of  the  course  of  the 
government,  the  President  announced  the  failure  of  the  com 
mission  sent  to  France. 

On  June  25  the  alien,  and  on  July  14  the  sedition,  laws, 
which  raised  such  a  commotion  in  American  politics,  were  passed. 

In  the  meantime  (July  7)  all  treaties  of  "alliance  and  amity 
and  commerce ' '  with  France  were  declared  void. 

With  all  these  appearances  of  belligerency,  the  deep-seated 
affection  for  France  was  so  strong  that  the  tenure  of  judicial  as 
well  as  public  opinion  was  that  France  and  the  United  States 
were  not  at  war  although  naval  engagements  had  taken  place. 

On  February  9,  1799,  Commodore  Truxton,  in  a  severe  en 
gagement,  captured  off  St.  Kitts  in  the  West  Indies  the  French 
frigate  Z,' Insurgent. 

This  determined  course  of  the  American  Government,  pro 
moted  in  no  spirit  of  hostility  or  malevolence,  but  in  justice,  on 
March  30  led  to  an  assurance  of  the  French  Government  that 
representatives  of  the  United  States  would  be  received  with 
all  the  respect  due  to  a  powerful  nation.  A  new  commission 
was  accordingly  sent  and  received  with  every  consideration  by 
Napoleon,  first  consul  of  France.  In  February,  1800,  Truxton 
defeated  the  French  frigate  La  Vengeance. 


526  Rochambeau  at  Court 

In  September  of  the  same  year  the  treaty  negotiations  were 
in  progress  and  the  following  July  were  ratified  by  France,  and 
as  a  matter  of  course  with  the  greatest  pleasure  by  the  United 
States. 

The  X  Y  Z  letters  were  traced  to  the  private  Secretary  of  M. 
de  Talleyrand,  proposing  a  bribe  of  1,200,000  francs.  The 
secret  of  the  names  was  never  divulged  but  the  correspondence 
was  published.  Talleyrand,  the  prime  minister  of  France,  was 
charged  with  dictating  the  insults,  but  now  disavowed  them. 
So  loath  was  Congress  to  engage  in  a  war  with  its  ancient  ally 
that  it  refused  to  arm  until  the  pressure  became  so  great  that  to 
resist  an  appearance  of  action  was  ruin  for  any  party. 

The  storm  growing  out  of  the  upheaval  of  the  French  masses, 
the  extreme  acts  of  their  leaders,  and  the  attempt  to  involve 
the  United  States,  has  always  been  regarded  as  an  incident  in 
the  international  relations  between  the  two  countries,  and  not 
in  an}'"  light  a  condition  to  break  the  continuity  of  friendship 
and  obligation  to  the  Government  and  people  of  France  for 
past  services. 

SORROW  ON  THK  DEATH  OF  WASHINGTON 

That  these  unhappy  experiences,  due  entirely  to  the  emissaries 
of  the  turbulent  element,  had  not  disturbed  the  inner  feelings  of 
the  French  people  was  shown  when  tidings  were  received  of  the 
death  of  the  venerated  Washington. 

Let  the  solemnity  be  characterized  by  a  distinguished  French 
man,  M.  Jusserand,  Ambassador  of  the  nation,  now  our  sister 
in  form  of  Government. 

The  occasion  was  the  address  of  that  eminent  diplomatist  at 
the  banquet  of  the  triennial  gathering  of  the  Military  Order  of 
the  Cincinnati  on  May  10,  1905,  at  Richmond,  Va.,  a  city 
almost  in  touch  with  the  scene  of  the  nation-making  achieve 
ment  of  the  allied  armies. 

M.  Jusserand  said  of  Washington  : 

He  died  admired  by  the  whole  world,  and  especially  by  France  and  by 
those  Frenchmen  who  had  seen  him  working  for  his  country.  The  trust 
in  him  had  been  so  great  from  the  first  that  when  secret  instructions  were 


Rochambeau  at  Court  527 

sent  from  France  to  our  officers  here,  they  were  ordered  to  reveal  them  to 
no  one,  but  there  was  the  usual  reservation:  "Except,  of  course,  to  Mon 
sieur  Washington."  The  feeling  of  Lafayette  for  him  is  well  known;  it 
was  enthusiasm  and  filial  love.  Less  known  and  no  less  striking  is  the 
impression  made  by  the  great  commander  on  Major-General  de  Chastel- 
lux.  Chastellux  came  over  with  ROCHAMBEAU;  he  was  not  so  young  as 
Lafayette;  he  had  fought  in  the  Seven  Years'  War.  He  was  withal  a  keen 
observer,  a  man  of  letters,  and  a  member  of  the  French  Academy.  In  the 
notes  he  took,  from  day  to  day,  during  his  stay  in  America,  he  writes: 

"I  saw  in  the  courtyard  a  tall  man,  nearly  6  feet  high,  with  a  noble 
and  sweet  countenance.  It  was  the  general  himself.  The  compliments 
were  brief  and'  I  soon  found  myself  quite  at  my  ease  by  the  side  of  the 
greatest  and  best  of  all  men.  The  whole  of  northern  America,  from  Bos 
ton  to  Charleston,  is  a  great  book,  each  page  of  which  offers  his  praise. 
Brave  without  temerity,  hard  working  without  ambition,  generous  without 
prodigality,  noble  without  pride,  virtuous  without  severity,  he  seems  ever 
to  stop  within  the  limits  where  virtues,  while  assuming  more  glaring  but 
more  changeful  colors,  may  be  considered  by  some  as  akin  to  defects. 
The  suffrages  in  his  favor  are  unanimous.  It  is  possible  that  there  exists 
a  virtue  able  to  bind  in  chains  the  injustice  of  men,  or  is  it  that  happiness 
and  glory  are  too  recently  established  in  America  for  envy  to  have  had 
time  to  cross  the  seas  ? ' ' 

FRANCE   MOURNED 

When  Washington  died,  when  France  herself  had  known  many  troub 
lous  days,  mourning  in  my  country  was  universal.  In  the  august  public 
ceremony  held  at  the  Invalides,  in  Paris,  on  the  8th  of  February,  1800,  to 
commemorate  the  great  deeds  of  the  departed  chief,  Fontanes,  the  public 
orator,  voiced  the  feeling  of  the  nation  when  he  said  in  the  presence  of  the 
most  representative  gathering  of  all  that  was  best. in  France: 

' '  More  than  any  words,  the  mere  holding  of  this  soldierly  funeral  cere 
mony  will  impress  all  hearts  with  strong  and  lasting  emotion. 

' '  The  mourning  ordered  by  the  first  consul  for  Washington  announces 
to  France  that  this  great  man's  examples  will  not  be  lost.  I  praise  before 
soldiers  a  soldier  firm  in  reverses,  modest  in  victory,  ever  human  in  the 
one  and  the  other  fortune.  I  praise  in  the  presence  of  the  ministers  of 
the  French  Republic  a  man  who  never  yielded  to  the  dictates  of  ambition 
and  whom  his  country  found  ever  ready  to  serve  her;  a  man  who  by  a  fate 
rare  among  those  who  lead  revolutions,  died  in  peace,  as  a  private  citizen, 
in  his  native  land,  where  he  had  filled  the  highest  post,  and  which  his 
hands  had  made  free. ' ' 


528  Rochambeau  at  Court 

DEATH    OF    ROCHAMBEAU 

The  long  and  brilliant  career  of  ROCHAMBEAU  in  field  and 
council  terminated  with  his  death  in  1807  at  the  place  of  his 
birth  eighty-two  years  before. 

TOMB    OF    ROGHAMBEAU 

The  remains  of  the  Marshal  repose  in  the  little  cemetery  of 
Thore  about  2  kilometers  (1.3  miles)  from  Chateau  Rocham 
beau.  The  mausoleum,  which  is  in  black  and  white  marble, 
is  surrounded  by  a  grille  in  forged  iron. 

On  it  reads  the  epitaph  of  the  Marshal,  composed  by  the 
Chevalier  de  BoufHers;  which  -conveys  a  brief  and  glorious 
resume  of  his  military  career. 

ROCHAMBEAU    BLOOD 

The  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  left  but  the  one  son,  whose 
name  appears  so  prominently  with  that  of  his  father  in  the 
service  of  the  French  corps  in  America.  He  attained  the  rank 
of  lieutenant-general  and  served  under  Napoleon  with  great 
fame.  He  was  governor  and  commandant  at  Santo  Domingo, 
then  a  French  possession  in  the  West  Indies,  where  he  resisted 
a  long  siege  by  the  English,  but  was  finally  compelled  to  sur 
render,  with  specific  agreement  that  he  might  return  to  France. 
In  violation  of  this  sacred  obligation  he  was  seized  on  board 
the  ship  convey irig  him  to  his  native  land  and  held  prisoner  in 
England  for  eight  years,  when  he  was  exchanged  in  1811.  He 
at  once  rejoined  the  French  army  and  fell  on  the  bloody  field  of 
Leipzig  two  years  later. 

Two  daughters  and  one  son  survived.  The  son,  Philip  de 
Rochambeau,  died  in  1868  without  issue.  Shortly  before  his 
death  Philip  adopted  a  child,  by  name  of  Eugene  Le  Croix, 
who  assumed  the  estates  at  Vendome  and  the  name  and  title 
Marquis. 

The  Marquis  de  Rochambeau  of  the  visitors  of  1902  was 
admitted  as  an  honorary  member  of  the  Rhode  Island  State 


TOMB  OF  COMTE   MARECHAL  DE   ROCHAMBEAU   AT  TORE    NEAR   VENDOME,    FRANCE. 


Rochambeau  at  Court  529 

Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  during  the  presence  of  the  foreign 
guests  at  Newport  on  Memorial  Day. 

He  could  not  be  admitted  an  hereditary  member,  as  none 
of  the  present  family  of  the  name  are  any  relation  to  the 
ROCHAMBEAU  family  of  alliance  fame. 

ROCHAMBEAU    MANUSCRIPTS 

The  ROCHAMBEAU  papers  were  purchased  by  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States  in  1883,  under  a  paragraph  of  the  sundry  civil 
appropriation  act,  approved  1883,  as  follows: 

To  enable  the  Joint  Committee  on  the  Library  to  purchase  from  the 
Marquis  de  Rochambeau  the  military  papers,  maps,  and  letter  books  of 
the  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  general  in  the  French  army  in  America, 
twenty  thousand  dollars. 

The  purchase  was  sustained  by  a  petition  circulated  among 
those  interested  in  historical  studies  in  this  country,  of  which 
the  following  is  a  copy: 

To  the  honorable  the  Members  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa 
tives: 

The  undersigned,  representing  the  historical  societies  of  their  respective 
States,  and  other  institutions  and  interests  of  learning  and  literature,  and 
especially  connected  with  subjects  of  historical  research  and  inquiry,  beg 
very  earnestly  to  recommend  the  passage  of  the  resolution  introduced  by 
Senator  Anthony  of  Rhode  Island  in  reference  to  the  purchase  of  the 
papers  of  the  General  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU.  As  the  commander  of 
the  French  forces  sent  to  aid  Washington  in  our  revolutionary  struggle, 
ROCHAMBEAU  earned  the  undying  gratitude  of  this  country.  No  more 
interesting  monument  of  his  services  could  be  selected  than  to  procure 
and  deposit  in  the  Congressional  Library  the  valuable  collection  of  his 
official  and  other  papers,  and  to  print  such  of  them  as  throw  fresh  light 
on  the  record  of  the  Revolution.  Your  petitioners  join  in  urging  that 
favorable  and  early  action  be  taken  to  secure  for  our  national  archives  the 
ROCHAMBEAU  papers. 

Of  the  general  scope  of  the  papers,  Mr.  Worthington  C.  Ford, 
in  charge  of  the  division  of  manuscripts,  says: 

The  papers  themselves  consist  of  eight  volumes  of  transcripts  of  letters 
and  a  number  of  miscellaneous  and  independent  papers.     In  all  there 
are  1,870  documents,  of  which  1,200  are  to  be  found  in  the  volumes  of 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 34 


530 


Rochambeau  at  Court 


transcripts.  A  few  entries  in  these  volumes  are  in  the  handwriting  of 
ROCHAMBEAU  himself.  With  the  loose  documents  are  to  be  found  a  few 
drafts  of  replies  prepared  in  his  handwriting.  But  the  amount  of  original 
ROCHAMBEAU  material  is  small. 

The  volumes  of  transcripts  contain  his  correspondence  with  his  own 
officers,  with  Washington,  Greene,  and  other  officers  of  the  Continental 
army,  with  the  President  of  Congress,  and  with  such  of  the  commissary 
officers  as  called  for  personal  attention  from  him.  One  volume  is  devoted 
to  ROCHAMBEAU'S  letters  to  Luzerne.  In  addition  to  transcripts  of 
ROCHAMBEAU'S  letters,  there  are  to  be  found  translations  and  transcripts 
of  letters  written  to  him  by  the  American  officers.  The  contents  have 
never  been  listed  or  calendared. 

In  the  loose  papers  are  to  be  found: 

1.  History  of  the  origin  and  progress  of  the  war  against  England,  in  an 
unknown  hand,  comprising  212  pages!     It  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
completed,  for  the  latest  entry  is  one  for  1778. 

2.  Journals  for  1781  and  1782,  a  part  of  which  has  appeared  in  Doniol. 
These  documents  are  both  short  and  were  probably  examples  of  a  series  of 
similar  journals. 

3.  Papers  on  the  order  of  march  of  the  French  army  in  1781  and  1782. 

4.  Military  papers  containing  re  orts  of  the  inspector-general  on  the 
condition  and  discipline  of  the  different  regiments;  memoirs  to  the  King; 
a  journal  of  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  and  a  portion  of  a  journal  of  operations 
in  1780. 

5.  A  series  of  36  letters  from  Washington  from  1782  to  1790.     Of  these 
17  are  holographs,  and  the  larger  part  of  these   are  written  after  the  war 
on  social  and  friendly  matters.     With  this  Washington  series  are  some 
translations  of   French   papers  by  Alexander  Hamilton — papers  bearing 
upon  the  operations  of  the  campaign  and  for  the  most  part  of  a  confiden 
tial  character.     In  the  volumes  of  transcripts  are  to  be  found  not  only 
ROCHAMBEAU'S  letters  to  Washington,  but  translations  of  Washington's 
letters  to  ROCHAMBEAU — presumably  a  complete  series. 

6.  The  papers  relating  to  the  French  members  of  the  Society  of  the 
Cincinnati,  including  a  copy  of  the   constitution  of  the  society  in   the 
writing  of  Samuel  Shaw  (a  translation),  a  list  of  the  French  members  and 
certain  subscribers  to  the  society  in  the  first  years  of  its  existence. 

7.  Original  letters  from  the  ministry  of  war  of  France  and  its  different 
branches  of  administration.     These  include  letters  from  Montbarey ,  Segur, 
Necker,  De  Sartine  and  Castries.     There  are  also  letters  from  Admiral 
Destouches,  from  Lauzun,  Vaudreuil,  and  Belle  Combe.     Also  letters  from 
General  Greene,  Luzerne,  and  Marbois. 

•  These  manuscripts,  for  reference,  safe-keeping,  and  preserva 
tion  have  been  classified,  indexed,  and  placed  with  a  view  to 
accessibility  in  a  darkened  alcove,  richly  appointed,  in  the 


Rochambeau  at  Court  531 

manuscript  wing  of  the  Library  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 
A  few  selected  papers  of  intense  interest  and  historic  value  are 
on  view  to  the  public  among  the  exhibits  of  the  manuscript 
treasures  of  the  national  collection. 

A   CENTURY   AFTER 

A  round  hundred  years  were  drawing  to  a  close,  when  Con 
gress  in  a  spirit  of  reminiscent  patriotism,  at  the  formal  request 
of  a  convention  of  the  governors  of  the  "Colonial  States,"  held 
in  Carpenter's  Hall,  Philadelphia,  October  18,  1879,  revived  the 
monument  resolution  of  October  29,  1781,  in  a  bill  which 
passed  the  House  January  27,  1880,  the  Senate  June  7,  1880, 
and  was  approved  June  7,  1880.  The  "  marble  column  "  was 
dedicated  with  national  ceremony  and  international  courtesy 
October  18-20,  1881,  at  Yorktown,  Va. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  column  the  services  of  the  French 
are  thus  recognized: 

At  York  on  Oct.  19,  1781 
After  a  siege  of  nineteen  days 

By  5»5°°  American  and  7,000  French  troops  of  the  line 

3,500  Virginia  Militia  under  Command  of  General  Thomas  Nelson 

and  36  French  ships  of  war 

Earl  Cornwallis 
Commander  of  the  British  Forces  at  York 

and  Gloucester 

surrendered  his  Army 

7,251  officers  and  men,  840  seamen,  244  cannon,  and  24  Standards 

to  His  Excellency,  George  Washington 
Commander  in  Chief  of  the  combined  forces  of  America  and  France 

To  His  Excellency  the  Comte  de  ROCHAMBEAU 
Commanding  the  Auxiliary  troops  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty  in 

America 

And  to  His  Excellency  the  Comte  de  Grasse 
Commanding  in  Chief  the  Naval  Army  of  France  in  Chesapeake 


SUPPLEMENTARY  PAPERS 


533 


SUPPLEMENTARY  PAPERS 


I.  Acknowledgments. 

II.  The  Franco-  American  press:  "  ROCHAMBEAU  Festivities  ;"  the  story 
in  French.     From  L,e  Courier  des  Etats-Unis,  New  York,  May  17- 
June  3,  1902.     (Adapted  by  the  author.) 
III.  The  regiments  of  the  auxiliary  army  of  France  under  Comte  DE  RO 

CHAMBEAU,   1780-1783. 

IV.  Reminiscent:  Military  Order  of  the  Cincinnati  in  France. 
VI.  Letters:  Bibliography  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  the  land  and  naval  armies 
of  France  serving  in  America. 

534 


I.  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

-..';,  .  '        *  •  ' 

The  thanks  of  the  author,  for  valuable  material  used  in  the  work,  are 
due  to— 

M.  J.  J.  JUSSERAND,  ambassador  extraordinary  and  plenipotentiary, 
for  the  portraits  of  the  President  and  premier  of  France,  and  chief  military 
and  naval  members  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  Mission  and  the  accompanying 
biographical  notes. 

Maj.  Gen.  F.  C.  AINSWORTH,  Military  Secretary,  for  copies  of  original 
returns  of  the  French  auxiliary  army  in  the  United  States  1780-1782. 

Brig.  Gen.  A.  L.  MILLS,  Superintendent,  and  Capt.  F.  O.  CoE,  Artillery 
Corps,  adjutant,  U.  S.  Military  Academy,  West  Point,  N.  Y.,  for  information 
relating  to  the  trophies  and  flags  captured  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  and  official 
circular  and  orders  for  the  entertainment  of  the  Mission  during  its  presence. 

Col.  CHARLES  S.  BROMWELL,  U.  S.  Army,  for  particulars  from  the  files 
of  the  engineer  in  charge  of  public  buildings  and  grounds,  diagrams,  etc. 

Capt.  SEATON  SCHROEDER,  U.-S.  Navy,  chief  intelligence  officer,  for  data 
relating  to  the  Gaulois. 

Mr.  HERBERT  PUTNAM,  Librarian  of  Congress,  for  facilities  in  the  exam 
ination  of  valuable  works  in  the  national  collection  and  compiled  material. 

Mr.  S.  N.  D.  NORTH,  Director  of  the  Census,  for  reports  relating  to  the 
French  in  United  States  statistics. 

M.  JUICES  BcEuFVE,  chancellor  of  the  French  embassy,  for  information 
relating  to  the  ROCHAMBEAU  statue  at  Vendome,  Paris,  Hestersville 
ROCHAMBEAU  Museum  Group,  and  relating  to  Comte  de  ROCHAMBEAU, 
lieutenant-general  of  the  American  army  of  France  in  America. 

Mr.  A.  H.  GRIFFITH,  director  of  the  Museum  of  Art,  Detroit,  Mich.,  for 
a  view  of  the  canvas  presented  by  the  Government  of  France  as  a  testi 
monial  of  appreciation  of  the  commemoration  of  the  services  of  the  French 
soldiers  and  sailors  in  the  war  of  the  American  Revolution. 

M.  H.  P.  SAMPERS  ET  CIE.,  for  a  complete  file  of  the  Courrier  des  Etats- 
Unis  covering  the  period  of  the  presence  of  the  ROCHAMBEAU  Mission  in 
the  United  States. 

Mr.  A.  P.  C.  GRIFFIN,  chief  bibliographer,  Library  of  Congress,  list  of 
works  relating  to  the  services  of  French  military  officers  in  the  war  of  the 
American  Revolution,  1780-1783. 

Mr.  S.  B.  WOODFINE,  editor  Times-Dispatch  of  Richmond,  Va.,  for  the 
issue  of  that  journal  containing  a  complete  story  of  the  triennial  meeting  of 
the  General  Society  of  the  Military  Order  of  the  Cincinnati  at  that  city  May, 
1905,  containing  the  references  of  the  French  ambassador  to  the  services 
of  the  French  soldiers  and  sailors  in  America  during  the  Revolution. 

535 


II. 


COURRIER  DES  ETATS-UNIS 


ORGANE  DES  POPULATIONS  DE  LANGUE  FRANCAISE 


75me  ANN^E 


No.  125 


H.  P.  SAMPERS  &  Cie.,  Proprigtaires-Editeurs.    Bureaux :  195-197  Fulton  street,  NEW-YORK. 


LA  MISSION  FRANQAISE 


WASHINGTON 


RECEPTION  A  LA  MAISON  BLANCHE 

WASHINGTON,  22  mat  1902—  L,es  mem- 
bres  de  la  mission  militaire  charged  de  rep- 
r£senter  la  R£publique  f ran9aise  a  T inaugu 
ration  du  monument  de  ROCHAMBEAU  sont 
arrives  a  Washington,  ce  matin  (22  mai), 
accompagn£s  de  M.  Peirce,  sous-secretaire  j 
d'Etat,   et   commandeur    Rodgers,   reprS-  | 
sentants  du  President  Roosevelt. 

Ce  matin,  de  bonne  heure,  le  vapeur 
auxiliaire  de  1'Ecole  navale  d'Annapolis 
Standish,  6tait  all6  au  mouillage  des 
navires  de  guerre,  a  1'embouchure  de  la 
Severn  River,  ou  se  trouvait  le  Gaulois, 
pour  prendre  a  son  bord  les  membres  de  la 
mission.  A  l'arriv£e  de  ceux-ci  au  wharf 
de  1'Ecole  navale,  les  Sieves  de  1'Ecole, 
ranges  en  bataille,  ont  rendu  les  honneurs 
militaires,  pendant  qu'une  batterie  voisine 
tirait  une  salve  de  quinze  coups  de  canon. 
Apres  avoir  passe1  en  revue  le  batallon  des 
Sieves,  les  envoyes  francais  sont  monies 
en  voiture  pour  se  rendre  a'  la  gare  ou  les 
attendait  un  train  special  qui  les  a  conduits 
a  Washington. 

L,a  mission  se  compose  dedouzeomciers 
dont  voici  les  noms  et  les  grades:  l,e  gene- 
ralissime  Brugere,  chef  de  la  mission;  le  g£- 
neral  de  Chalendar,  dont  un  anc£tre  fut  un 
des  lieutenants  de  ROCHAMBEAU;  lecolonel 
Meaux-Saint-Marc,  officier  de  la  maison 


militaire  du  president  de  la  R6publique;  le 
lieutenant-colonel  Hermite,  le  comman 
dant  Berthelot,  aide  de  camp  du  g£n£ral 
Brugdre,  les  capitaines  Poilloiie  de  Saint- 
Mars,  Filloneau  et  I,asson,  le  vice-amiral 
Fournier  et  les  lieutenants  de  vaisseau  de 
Reinach  de  Werth,  Sauvaire-Jourdah  et 
I,ejay,  aides  de  campde  1'amiral  Fournier. 

A  leur  arrived  a  la  gare  de  Washington, 
a  dix  heures,  les  membres  de  la  mission, 
tous  en  grand  uniforme,  ont  £t£  re£us  avec 
les  honneurs  militaires  par  un  escadron  du 
2e  de  cavalerie,  charge1  de  les  escorter 
jusqu'a  la  Maison  Blanche.  Une  douzaine 
de  voitures  de'couvertes  6taient  rang£es 
pre's  de  1'entr^e  de  la  gare.  L,a  premiere 
de  ces  voitures  ^tait  celle  du  President 
Roosevelt  lui-m^me.  I^e  secretaire  Peirce 
y  a  pris  place  en  compagnie  du  g£n£ral 
Brugere,  du  g£n£ral  de  Chalendar  et  de 
1'amiral  Fournier. 

L,e  cortege,  encadr^  par  des  policemen 
months,  a  suivi  Pennsylvania  avenue  pour 
se  rendre  a  la  Maison  Blanche,  sur  le  perron 
de  laquelle  le  colonel  Bingham,  repr£sen- 
tant  du  President  Roosevelt,  et  plusieurs 
membres  de  1'ambassade  de  France  atten- 
daient  les  envoyes  fran5ais.  Au  moment 
ou  ceux-ci  mettaieiitpied  a  terre,  une  salve 
d'artillerie  a  ^te  tir£e  par  une  batterie 
plac^e  dans  le  pare,  au  sud  du  palais  presi- 
dentiel.  Une  foule  considerable  etait  r^- 
unie  aux  abords  de  la  Maison  Blanche; 
elle  a  pouss6  des  hourras  chaleureux  a  1'ar- 
rivee  de  la  mission  francaise. 

M.  Cambon,  ambassadeur  de  France, 
Mme.  Cambon,  M.  de  Margerie,  conseiller 

537 


538 


Supplementary  Papers 


d'atnbassade,  et  Mttie.  de  Margerie,  plusi- 
eurs  autres  tnembres  de  1'ambassade,  le 
comte  et  la  comtesse  de  Rochambeau,  M. 
de  Sahune  de  Lafayette  et  les  membres  de 
la  mission  civile  amenes  samedi  dernier 
par  la  Touraine,  etaient  arrives  vers  dix 
heures  a  la  Maison  Blanche  et  attendaient 
dans  le  salon  Rouge  la  mission  militaire. 

Pendant  ce  temps,  les  plus  hauts  fonc- 
tionnaires  et  officiers  du  gouvernement 
des  Etats-Unis  se  reunissaient  dans  le  salon 
de  1'Est  pour  assister  a  la  reception  des 
envoyes  franyais.  Outre  les  secretaires 
d'Etat,  de  la  guerre,  de  la  marine,  etc.,  on 
remarquait  le  general  Miles,  1'amiral 
Dewey,  le  general  Porter,  ambassadeur  des 
Etats-Unis  en  France,  des  senateurs  et  des 
representants,  etc.,  ainsi  qu'un  certain 
nombre  de  dames  appartenant  au  monde 
officiel. 

Le  colonel  Bingham,  qui  faisait  pour  la 
circonstance  les  fonctions  d'introducteur 
des  ambassadeurs,  a  conduit  le  general 
Brugere,  1'amiral  Fournier  et  les  autres 
officiers  dans  le  salon  Rouge,  ou  les  atten- 
dait  M.  Cambon.  Puis,  la  mission  f  ran£aise 
au  grand  complet  s'est  dirigee  vers  le  sa 
lon  de  1'Est,  ou  le  President  Roosevelt, 
accompagne'  de  Mile.  Alice  Roosevelt  et  de 
Mile.  Carew,  sceur  de  Mme.  Roosevelt,  ve- 
nait  de  se  rendre. 

L'entree  de  tous  les  officiers  fran$ais  en 
grand  uniforme,  et  de  1'ambassadeur  de 
France  et  du  personnel  de  1'ambassade, 
egalement  en  uniforme,  a  produit  un  grand 
effet.  Dans  le  group  forme  par  le  Presi 
dent  Roosevelt  et  ses  ministres,  les  habits 
civils  dominaient,  mais  les  uniformes  des 
officiers  generaux  et  les  toilettes  des  dames 
mettaient  la  aussi  une  note  £clatante. 

Quand  M.  Cambon,  ambassadeur  de 
France,  a  presente  le  general  Brugere  au 
President,  celui-ci  a  avance  vivement  la 
main  et  a  souhaite  la  bienvenue  en  excel 
lent  francais  &  l'envoy£  du  President  Lou- 
bet.  II  a  fait  egalement  un  accueil  chaleu- 
reux  a  1'amiral  Fournier  et  aux  autres 
membres  de  la  mission ,  qui  etaient  charm£s 
d'entendre  le  President  des  Etats-Unis 
s'exprimer  aussi  facilement  dans  notre 
langue.  La  ceremonie  de  la  presentation 
ne  devait  durer  que  quelques  minutes 
d'apres  le  programme,  mais  M.  Roosevelt 
a  engage  avec  le  general  Brugere  et  1'a 
miral  Fournier  une  conversation  assez  pro- 
longee,  et  trois  quarts  d'heure  se  sont  ecou- 


Iss  avant  que  la  reception  ait  pris  fin.  Au- 
cun  discours  n'a  ete  prononce. 

En  quittant  la  Maison  Blanche,  le  gene 
ral  Brugere  et  les  membres  de  la  mission 
sont  alles  rendre  visite  au  secretaire  d'Etat, 
au  secretaire  de  la  guerre,  au  secretaire  de 
la  marine,  au  lieutenant  general  Miles,  a 
1'amiral  Dewey  et  aux  ambassadeurs  accre'- 
dit€s  a  Washington. 

Dans  1'apres-midi,  le  yacht  des  Etats- 
Unis  Sylph  a  conduit  la  mission  fraii9aise 
a  Mount  Vernon,  qui  se  trouve,  comme  on 
sait,  un  peu  au  sud  de  Washington,  sur  la 
rive  droite  du  Potomac.  Le  general  Bru 
gere,  au  nom  du  gauvernement  fran£ais,  a 
depos^  une  magnifique  couronne  garnie  de 
rubans  tri-colores  sur  la  tombe  de  George 
Washington.  Le  mausole  avait  ete  ouvert, 
mais  quelques-uns  seulement  des  envoye's 
francais  ont  pu  y  penelrer  a  la  suite  de  M. 
Cambon,  du  general  Brugere  et  le.l'amiral 
Fournier. 

Le  comte  de  Rochambeau,  qui  est, 
comme  on  sait,  1'arriere-petit-neveu  du 
marechal,  a  plante  ensuite  pres  de  la 
tombe  un  jeune  erable  provenant  du 
champ  de  bataille  de  Yorktown,  ou  RO 
CHAMBEAU  et  Lafayette  combattirent  a 
c6te  de  Washington.  Le  general  Brugere 
et  les  autres  officiers  francais  ont  para- 
chev6  1'oeuvre  du  comte  de  ROCHAMBEAU 
en  jetant  des  pelletees  de  terre  au  pied  de 
1'arbre. 

Les  membres  de  la  mission,  qui  avaieiit 
ete  accompagn£s  a  Mount  Vernon  par  M. 
Peirce,  sous-secretaire  d'Etat,  ont  ete  ra- 
menes  a  Washington  par  le  Sylph,  et  ils 
ont  dine  le  soir  a  la  Maison  Blanche. 


WASHINGTON,  22  mat,  soir. — Un  banquei 
a  £t6  donne  le  mgme  soir  a  la  Maison 
Blanche  en  I'hojineur  des  membres  de  la 
mission  francaise.  Le  President  et  Mile. 
Alice  Roosevelt  ont  re£u  les  invites,  parm- 
lesquels  on  remarquait  les  membres  du 
cabinet,  des  s£nateurs  et  des  representants 
des  officiers  generaux  de  1'armee  et  de  la 
marine,  etc.  La  table  en  fer  a  cheval  avait 
ete  placee  dans  le  salon  de  1'Est  decoree  de 
drapeaux  franyais  et  americains,  la  salle 
a  manger  du  palais  £tant  trop  petite  pour 
recevoir  un  aussi  grand  nombre  d'invitest 
Des  fougeres  et  des  roses  d£coraient  la 
table. 


Supplementary  Papers 


539 


L,e  President  avait  a  sa  droite  Mnie. 
Catnbon  et  a  sa  gauche  la  comtesse  de 
Rochambeau,  a  cote  de  laquelle  etait  place 
M.  Cambon. 

Voici,  d'ailleurs,  la  liste  complete  des  in 
vites: 

L,e  secretaire  d'Etat,  le  secretaire  de  la 
Guerre  et  Mrae.  Root,  le  directeur-ge"n£ral 
des  Postes  et  Mme.  Payne,  le  secretaire  de 
la  Marine,  le  secretaire  de  1' Agriculture  et 
Mile.  Wilson,  Mile.  Roosevelt,  Mile.  Carew, 
le  secretaire  du  President,  le  colonel  T.  A. 
Bingham,  1'ambassadeur  de  France  et 
Mme.  Cambon,  le  general  Brug£re,  le  vice- 
amiral  Ernest  Fournier,  le  comte  de  Ro 
chambeau,  la  comtesse  de  Rochambeau,  le 
comte  Paul  de  Sahune  de  Lafayette,  M. 
Alfred  Croiset,  le  general  de  brigade  Fer 
dinand  de  Chalendar,  le  capitaine  de  Surgy , 
le  lieutenant-colonel  Paul  Meaux-Saint- 
Marc,  M.  L,agrave,  M.  et  Mme.  de  Margerie, 
M.  Jean  Guillemin,  le  lieutenant-colonel 
Marcel  Hermite,  M.  Renouard,  M.  Robert 
de  Billy,  le  commandant  Henri  Berthelot, 
le  capitaine  Vignal  et  Mme.  Vignal,  le  lieu 
tenant  de  vaisseau  de  Faramond  de  L,afa- 
jolle,  M.  Jules  Bceufve,  le  lieutenant  de 
vaisseau  Andre  Sauvaire-Jourdan,  le  lieu 
tenant  Gustave  I,ejay,  le  lieutenant  baron 
Maximilien  de  Reinach  de  Werth,  le  capi 
taine  Poilloiie  de  Saint-Mars,  le  capitaine 
Etienne  Fillonneau,  le  capitaine  Henri 
Lasson,  M.  I,ouis  Hermite,  le  vicomte 
Charles  de  Chambrun,  M.  Ferdinand 
Hamar,  M.  Henry  E.  Gourd,  les  senateurs 
Wetmore,  I^odge,  Cullom  et  Morgan,  les 
representants  McCleary,  Hitt  et  Dinsmore, 
le  sous-secretaire  d'Etat  David  J.  Hill,  M. 
Herbert  H.  D.  Peirce,  1'amiral  Dewey,  le 
general  Miles,  lieutenant-general,  le  major 
general  S.  B.  M.  Young,  le  commandant 
Raymond  P.  Rodgers,  le  general  Horace 
Porter,  le  cardinal  Gibbons,  rev£que  de 
Washington,  M.  S.  P.  I^angley,  M.  Edwin  V. 
Morgan. 

Pendant  le  diner,  le  President  Roosevelt 
a  bu  "  a  la  sante  du  President  de  la  R6pu- 
blique  Francaise  et  du  peuple  fran9ais." 
M.  Cambon  a  repondu  en  proposant  un  toast 
"au  President  des  Etats-Unis  "  eta  pro- 
nonce  quelques  paroles  aimables  a  1'a- 
dresse  du  President.  L,e  secretaire  Hay 
a  a  son  tour  porte  un  toast  "  aux  membres 
de  la  mission  Rochambeau"  et  le  general 
Brugere  lui  a  repondu. 


A  BORD  DU  "GAULOIS." 

LA  VISITE  DU  PRESIDENT  ROOSEVELT. 

WASHINGTON,  23  mat  7902. — L,e  general 
Brugdre  et  tous  les  membres  de  la  mission 
francaise  etaient  partis  pour  Annapolis  par 
le  train  de  9  heures  et  demie  du  matin;  un 
wagon  special  leur  avait  ete  reserve.  L,e 
general  Miles  et  1'amirai  Dewey,  ainsi  que 
M.  Peirce,  sous-secretaire  d'Etat,  le  com 
mandant  Rodgers  et  M.  Edwin  P.  Morgan, 
representants  du  President  Roosevelt,  le 
general  Corbin,  le  general  Horace  Porter, 
ambassadeur  des  Etats-Unis  a  Paris,  M. 
Henry  E.  Gourd,  president  de  la  Chambre 
de  commerce  fran?aise  de  New- York,  et 
huit  dames,  accompagnaient  la  mission. 

A  leur  arrivee  a  Annapolis,  les  envoyes 
fraii9ais  et  leurs  invites  ont  ete  re?us  par 
deux  officiers  de  marine  attaches  a  1'Ecole 
navale,  qui  les  ont  conduits  au  wharf,  oft  les 
avait  precedes  le  gouverneur  du  Maryland, 
M.  Smith,  qui  etait  au  nombre  des  invites. 
Deux  vapeurs,  le  Gloucester  et  le  Standish, 
ont  transporte  le  general  Brugere  et  ses 
nombreux  compagnons  de  voyage  a  bord 
du  Gaulois,  qui  est  mouilie,  comme  on  sait, 
a  4  milles  au-dessous  de  1'Ecole  navale. 

I,e  train  special  du  President  Roosevelt  a 
quitte  Washington  a  10  heures  et  demie. 
Outre  le  President,  sa  fille  et  sa  belle-sosur, 
on  y  remarquait  M.  Jules  Cambon,  ambas 
sadeur  de  France,  et  Mme.  Cambon,  M. 
Root,  secretaire  de  la  Guerre,  M.  Moody, 
secretaire  de  la  Marine,  le  contre-amiral 
Taylor,  M.  Foss,  representant  de  I'lllinois, 
M.  Cortelyou,  secretaire  particulier  du 
President,  et  Mme.  Cortelyou,  Mme.  I^odge, 
femme  du  senateur  du  Massachusetts,  le 
colonel  Bingham,  le  commandant  Win 
ston,  aide  de  camp  du  President,  et  Mme. 
Winston. 

A  1'arrivee  en  gare  d' Annapolis,  a  n  heu 
res  et  demie,  M.  Roosevelt  a  ete  recu  par  le 
commandant  Wainwright,  surintendant  de 
1'Ecole  navale,  et  le  lieutenant  Seigen- 
meier,  son  aide  de  camp.  L,es  rues  d'An- 
napolis  que  le  President  et  sa  suite  devaient 
traverser  en  voiture  etaient  gardees  par  des 
detachements  de  la  milice  du  Maryland. 
A  1'Ecole  navale,  le  bataillon  des  ei£ves 
etait  sous  les  armes  et  a  rendu  les  honneurs 
militaires,  pendant  que  la  musique  de 
1'Ecole  jouait  le  "  Star  Spangled  Banner." 


540 


Supplementary  Papers 


Arrii6s  au  Santee  wharf,  M.  Roosevelt 
et  les  personnes  qui  1'accompagnaient  ont 
pris  place  dans  des  embarcations  pour  se 
rendre  a  bord  de  1'aviso  le  Dolphin;  en 
meTne  temps  ce  navire  saluait  le  President 
de  vingt-un  coups  de  canon.  I,e  petit  voy 
age  de  quatre  milles  entre  le  Santee  wharf 
etle  mouillage  du  Gaulois  n'a  pas  pr£sent£ 
d'incident. 

lyorsque  le  Dolphin  est  arriv6  au  mouil- 
lage  des  navires  de  guerre,  le  Gaulois  et 
les  trois  bailments  am£ricains  de  1'escorte, 
/' Alabama,  le  Kearsarge'et  VOlympia,  ont 
salue  de  vingt-un  coups  de  canon.  I^es  em 
barcations  du  Dolphin  ont  amene  a  l'£chelle 
de  tribord  du  cuirass^  francais  le  President 
des  Etats-Unis  et  sa  suite.  Re£u  a  la 
couple  par  M.  Cambon,  ambassadeur  de 
France,  le  general  Brugere  et  le  vice-amiral 
Fournier,  M.  Roosevelt  a  etc  conduit  dans 
le  salon  de  1'amiral  Fournier,  ou  1'atten- 
daient  les  membres  de  la  mission. 

Apres  s'£tre  entretenu  quelques  instants 
avec  les  officiers  francais,  le  President  a 
exprim£  le  desirde  visiter  le  navire,  en  at 
tendant  1'heure  du  dejeuner,  qui  devait 
gtre  send  a  une  heure.  M.  Roosevelt,  con 
duit  par  1'amiral  Fournier,  a  parcouru  la 
batterie;  il  a  paru  s'int£resser  vivement  a 
1'armament  et  a  1'amEnagement  du  Gau 
lois.  M.  Ross,  repr£sentant  de  1' Illinois, 
qui  est  president  de  la  commission  des 
affaires  navales  a  la  chambre,  a  sembl£, 
lui  aussi,  prendre  un  vif  int6r£t  a  cette 
visite.  On  sait  que  les  derniers  cuirasses 
construits  aux  Etats-Unis,  V Alabama,  par 
exemple,  ressemblent  par  certains  c6tes  au 
cuirasse  francais;  ils  ont  a  peu  pr£s  le 
mgme  tonnage,  la  me^ne  £spaisseur  de 
cuirasse  et  le  m£me  armement. 

I,a  table  du  dejeuner  avait  Ete  dress£e 
sur  le  pont,  a  1'arriere  du  navire,  sous  une 
tente  formee  de  drapeaux  francais  et  am£- 
ricains  et  tres  artistiquement  dEcorEe  de 
plantes  vertes  et  de  roses.  De  nombreuses 
lumieres  Electriques  et  des  candElabres 
garnis  de  bougies  eclairaient  la  table,  au- 
tour  de  laquelle  trois  Eventails  electriques 
entretenaient  une  fraicheur  relative.  I,a 
vaisselle  et  1'argenterie  avaient  616  appor- 
tees  de  France;  elles  provenaient  du  palais 
de  1'ElysEe,  au  dire  d'un  officier  du 
Gaulois. 

Une  centaine  de  personnes  ont  pris  part 
a  ce  dejeuner.  I,e  President  occupait  la 


place  d'honneur  au  centre  de  la  table,  di- 
rectement  au-dessous  de  la  volEe  des  deux 
grosses  pieces  de  30  centimetres  qui  arment 
la  tourelle  d'arriere  du  Gaulois.  En  face 
du  President,  un  faisceau  de  drapeaux 
am£ricains  entourait  un  aigle  aux  ailes 
EployEessurmontant  1'ecusson  national  des 
Etats-Unis  et  tla  devise:  "  E  Pluribus 
Unum." 

lye  President  avait  a  sa  droite  Mme.  Root, 
femme  du  secretaire  de  la  Guerre,  et  le 
general  Brugere,  et  a  sa  gauche,  Mme. 
IvOdge,  femme  du  se'nateur  du  Massachu 
setts,  et  le  vice-amiral  Fournier.  Mme. 
Cambon,  femme  de  1'ambassadeur  de 
France,  £tait  assise  en  face  du  President. 
Une  des  places  d'honneur  avait  eie  re- 
servee  au  gouverneur  du  Maryland,  M. 
Smith,  a  c6t^  duquel  etait  assis  1'amiral 
Dewey. 

Pendant  le  diner,  la  musique  des  Equi 
pages  de  la  flotte  a  fait  entendre  les  mor- 
ceaux  les  plus  choisis  de  son  repertoire. 

Au  dessert,  M.  Cambon  s'est  Iev6  et,  au 
nom  du  President  de  la  R£publique  Fran- 
?aise,  il  a  souhaitE  chaleureusement  la 
bienvenue  a  toutes  les  personnes  pr^sentes 
sur  le  sol  francais,  repr6sent6  par  le  Gau 
lois.  II  a  etc  tres  aimable  dans  ses  allu 
sions  au  President  Roosevelt,  entre  les 
mains  duquel,  a-t-il  dit,  les  libertes  si  pre. 
cieuses  du  peuple  amEricain  sont  en  surete- 
L,'ambassadeur  de  France  a  Eloquemmeiit 
rappelE  le  but  de  la  mission  du  general 
Brugere;  il  a  dit  qu'il  esp£rait  fermement 
que  la  grande  amiti6  que  unit  depuis  un 
siecle  le  peuple  francais  au  peuple  des 
Etats-Unis  se  perpetuerait  a  travers  les 
generations  futures.  II  a  termine  en  bu- 
vant  a  la  sant6  "du  President  de  la  glo- 
rieuse  R^publique  AmEricaine  qui  a  domi£ 
1'exemple  de  la  Iibert6  populaire,  non 
seulement  a  la  France,  mais  au  monde 
etitier." 

En  proposant  la  sant6  du  President 
Roosevelt,  M.  Cambon  a  dit  qu'en  invitant 
le  premier  magistral  des  Etats-Unis,  il 
avait  voulu  faire  ressortir  le  fait  qu'il 
agissait  comme  repr£sentant  direct  et  per 
sonnel  de  M.  I^oubet,  President  de  la  Re- 
publique  Francaise. 

L,e  President  Roosevelt  a  fait  une  reponse 
heureuse,  quoique  parlant  avec  une  len- 
teur  qui  ne  lui  est  pas  habituelle,  comme 
s'il  mesurait  la  portEe  de  chacune  des 


Supplementary  Papers 


paroles  qu'il  pronon9ait.  I^e  President  a 
ajoute: 

"  M.  1'Ambassadeur,  nous  appr^cions  ce 
que  la  France  a  fait  en  envoyant  sur  nos 
c6tesun  aussi  magnifique  navire  de  guerre, 
nous  apprecions  egalement  le  choix  de 
ceux  qui  ont  ete  envoy£s  ici  pour  la  repre- 
senter  a  1'inauguration  du  monument  de 
ROCHAMBEAU,  uii  illustre  general  et  un 
non  moins  illustre  aniiral.  II  y  a  cent 
vignt  ans,  d'apres  1'histoire,  le  courage  des 
soldats  et  marins  fran9ais  fit  une  telJe  im 
pression  sur  les  citoyens  de  ce  pays  qu'ils 
devinrent,  par  1'exemple  qu'ils  leur  don- 
nf rent,  libres  efindependants  [applaudis- 
sements] ,  et,  pour  cela,  la  France  occupera 
toujours  dans  nos  cceurs  une  place  cherie 
[nouveaux  applaudissements].  M.  1'Am- 
bassadenr,  je  vous  remercie  personnelle- 
ment  de  la  politesse  que  vous  m'avez  t6- 
moignee.  Ce  sera  pour  moi  d'une  grande 
utility  d'avoir,  grace  a  vous,  pu  visiter  ce 
magnifique  vaisseau  francais.  J'ai  et£ 
tr£s  impression^  par  son  m6canisme  et  son 
armement  superieurs  et  par  le  bel  aspect 
et  la  discipline  des  hommes  de  son  Equi 
page.  Je  suis  certain  de  parler  avec  Tap- 
probation  de  la  marine  americaine  en  di- 
sant  que  nous  avons  Et£  tres  heureux  de 
voir  dans  nos  eaux  un  navire  d'un  modele 
aussi  remarquable  que  le  Gaulois  comme 
architecture  naval  et,  en  son  nom,  je  vous 
remercie.  Permettez-moi,  au  nom  du  peu- 
ple  des  Etats-Unis  et  avec  la  conviction 
certaine  que  j'interprete  ses  sentiments, 
de  boire  a  la  sante  du  President  I^oubet  et 
a  la  prosperite  de  la  puissante  nation  dont 
ilestlechef." 

I«e  general  Brugere  a  ensuite  pris  la  pa 
role  et  a  terming  son  allocution,  des  plus 
flatteuses  pour  les  Etats-Unis,  en  portant 
un  toast  &  la  m£moire  de  ROCHAMBEAU  et 
de  WASHINGTON. 

I,e  secretaire  de  la  guerre  Root  a  pro- 
nonce  un  discours  court,  mais  heureux.  II 
a  rappele  que  le  Gaulois  avait  jete  1'ancre 
dans  les  monies  eaux  qui  baignent  les  c6  es 
de  Yorktown.  II  a  ensuite  porte  le  toast 
suivant: 

"Je  bois  a  I'armEe  fraii9aise,  toujours 
devolve  et  tendre  dans  son  amitie,  toujours 
intrepide  et  courageuse  en  temps  de 
guerre." 

Iv'amiral  Fournier  a  ensuite  fait  allusion 
a  1'estime  r^ciproque  qui  existait  entre  les 


marines  des  deux  pays,  et  a  bu  a  la  sante 
de  M.  Roosevelt  et  aux  fonctionnaires  at 
taches  a  la  Maison  Blanche. 

M.  Moody,  secretaire  de  la  Marine,  a  pro- 
nonce  une  adresse  courte,  mais  pleine  de 
feu.  II  a  fait  remarquer  que  la  flotte  fran- 
caise  etait  toujours  venue  aux  Etats-Unis 
pour  une  mission  amicale,  et  il  a  ajoute: 

"Quand  la  France  est  venue  a  notreaide, 
il  y  a  plus  de  cent  ans,  ellea  non  seulement 
rendu  un  grand  service  a  la  liberte,  mais 
elle  nous  a  aussi  impose  un  devoir  qui 
entraine  pour  nous  1'obligation  de  le 
remplir  et  le  peuple  ameYicain  peut  dire 
avec  orgueil  qu'il  n'y  a  jamais  manque." 

M.  Moody  a  ensuite  porte  un  toast  a  la 
marine  fraii9aise  qui  a  ete  chaleureuse- 
ment  applaudi. 

M.  Cambon  a  termini  la  sErie  des  dis 
cours  en  se  levant  de  nouveau  et  en  pro- 
posant  un  toast  des  plus  galants,  celui  de 
boire  a  la  sant6  de  Mme.  Roosevelt.  I^a 
proposition  de  1'ambassadeur  a  £t£  salute 
de  nombreux  applaudissemeuts. 

Voici  le  menu  a  bord  du  Gaulois: 

Olives 
Saucisson  de  L,yon  Radis  et  beurre 

Anchois  a  I'h^ile 

CEufs  brouillfe  aux  truffes 

Tron9on  de  Saumon  a  la  Russe,  Sause  verte 

Filets  Mignon  a  la  Bordelaise 

Poulet  de  Printemps  a  1'Estoufade 

Garni  au  Cresson 

Asperges  Alaska 

Dessert:   Savarin  aux  Ananas — Petits 

fours  assortis 

Fromage    Fruits    Cafe 

Vins:  Chateau    Suduiraut   1877— Saint- 

Julien 

Champagne:  Moet  &  Chandon  Cachet 
blanc— Montebello  Cremant  brut  1893. 
I,e  President  Roosevelt  a  quitt6  Annapo 
lis  vers  quatre  heures  et  demie  de  l'apr£s- 
midi  pour  rentrer  a  Washington,  ou  il  est 
arrh'6  ash.  28.  Une  heure  apr£s  le  depart 
du  President,  le  general  Brug£re  et  les 
membres  de  la  mission  sont  partis  a  leur 
tour  d' Annapolis  pour  Washington,  ou  ils 
ont  dine  a  1'ambassade  de  France.  I^es 
personnes  invitees  a  ce  diner  etaient,  sauf 
quelques  exceptions,  les  monies  qui  as- 
sistaient  jeudi  soir  au  diner  donne  par  le 
President  Roosevelt  a  la  Maison  Blanche. 
On  y  remarquait  en  outre  Mgr.  Gibbons, 


542 


Supplementary  Papers 


cardinal-archev£que  de  Baltimore,  Mgr. 
Chapelle,  archeve~gue  de  la  Nouvelle-Or- 
l£ans,  les  ambassadeurs  de  Russie,  d'ltalie 
et  du  Mexique,  les  ministres  d'Autriche- 
Hongrie,  de  Suisse,  des  Pays-Bas  et  du 
Danemark,  les  s^nateurs  Fairbanks,  Hanna 
et  Depew,  etc. 

L,a  salle  ou  avait  lieu  le  banquet  £tait  d6- 
cor£e  de  drapeaux  francais  et  am£ricains. 
Nous  donnons  ici  le  menu  du  diner: 

Clovisses  sur  Coquilles 
Assiettes  de  Glaces    Citrons  en  panier 
Potage  Consomru£  Rachel  aux  Truffes 

Potage  Creme  d'Asperges 
Olives  farcies    Radis     Amandes  salves 

Petites  Timbales  Moscovites 

Mousse  de  Homard  a  la  Rochambeau 

Pommes  Parisienne,  Concombres 

Filet  de  Bceuf  Richelieu 
Chapon  a  1'Ambassadrice,   Champignons 

frais 

Sorbets  Marquise  au  Champagne 
Pluviers  R6tis  au  Cresson 

Salade  Demi-Deuil 

Desserts:  Fantaisie— Mousse  a  1' Ananas— 
Petits  fours  assortis— 

Bonbons  Fourr£s 

Fruits     Fromage    Caf6 

Vins:  Marsala  1^88— Saint- Julien— Chateau 

d'Arsac  1893 

Champagne:  Moet  &  Chandon   Brut  im- 
p6rial— Montebello  Cremant  brut  1893. 


WASHINGTON,  24  mat  7902.— I,e  Pr£si- 
dent  des  Etats-Unis  a  pr£sid£  aujourd'hui, 
en  compagnie  des  repr6sentants  officiels 
de  la  R£publique  fran?aise,  a  1'inaugu- 
ration  de  la  statue  du  mare'chal  de  RO 
CHAMBEAU,  eVige'e  en  face  de  celle  de 
I,afayette,  pre"s  de  la  Maison  Blanche. 
M.  Roosevelt  avait  tenu  a  rendre  un  £cla- 
tant  hommage,  au  nom  de  la  Republique 
am£ricaine,  au  brave  soldat  qui  comman- 
dait  en  chef  les  troupes  de  L,ouis  XVI  en- 
voy6es  au  secours  de  l'arm£e  du  g£ne"ral 
Washington,  il  y  a  cent  vingt  ans. 

Dans  la  matinee  le  President  Roosevelt 
a  recu  a  la  Maison  Blanche  les  membres 
du  Cercle  litt£raire  franco-ame'ricain,  de 
T Alliance  fransaise  de  New- York,  de  1'Al- 
liance  francaise  de  Brooklyn,  de  1'Irish- 
American  Historical  Society  et  de  1'Associ- 
ation  nationale  francaise  de  Philadelphie, 
qui  s'6taient  rendus  a  Washington  par 


train  special  pour  assister  a  1'inauguration 
du  monument  de  ROCHAMBEAU. 

I,e  monument  de  ROCHAMBEAU  corn- 
prend  une  statue  de  bronze  de  2  metres  70 
de  hauteur,  un  haut-relief  de  bronze  repr£- 
sentant  la  "L,iberte  armee,"  et  un  pi£des- 
tal  de  pierre  sur  soubassement  de  granit; 
1'ensemble  du  monument  ne  mesure  pas 
moins  de  cinq  metres  cinquante.  RO 
CHAMBEAU  est  repre'sente'  debout,  le  bras 
droit  tendu  vers  1'horizon,  dans  un  geste 
de  commandement;  dans  la  main  gauche 
il  tient  un  plan  de  la  ville  de  Yorktown;  a 
ses  pieds  repose  une  culasse  de  canon  sur 
laquelle  se  d£tache  une  branche  de  lau- 
rier. 

Parmi  les  inscriptions  qui  figurent  sur 
le  pi£destal  de  la  statue  on  remarque 
celle-ci: 

"Nous  avons  £t£  confreres  et  collabo- 
rateurs  au  service  de  la  liberte\  et  nous 
avons  v£cu  ensemble  comme  le  doivent  des 
freres,  dans  une  amide1  harmonieuse. — 
Washington." 

Cette  phrase  est  extraite  d'une  lettre  du 
general  Washington  adress£e  a  ROCHAM 
BEAU  le  ier  feVrier  1784.  L,'original  de 
cette  lettre,  d£couverte  dans  les  archives 
du  chateau  de  Rochambeau,  a  et£  appor- 
t^e  aux  Etats-Unis  par  le  petit-neveu  du 
mar^chal.  On  en  a  retrouvd  la  copie  dans 
les  archives  du  d£partement  d'Etat,  a 
Washington,  et  on  a  juge  que  1'extrait  ci- 
dessus  serait  la  plus  belle  des  inscriptions 
pour  le  monument  de  ROCHAMBEAU. 

Vartisteacherche'  a  rendre,  tant  par  1'al- 
lure  du  personnage  que  par  1 'expression 
de  sa  physionomie,  les  traits  caract£ris- 
tiques  de  cette  irrte'ressante  figure  du  der 
nier  marshal  de  1'ancienne  monarchic. 

De  la  vaillance  simple,  de  l'£nergie  dans 
la  decision,  une  grande  defiance  de  1'in- 
trigue  et  un  vif  amour  de  son  pays  et  de 
son  6tat,  ROCHAMBEAU  constituele  type  ac 
compli  du  soldat  de  carri£re  sous  1'ancien 
regime;  celui  que  sa  naissance  pouvait  ap- 
peler  aux  brillants  loisirs  de  la  vie  cour, 
mais  a  qui  son  caractere  fit  toujours  pre^ 
f^rer  les  rudes  hasards  des  campagnes 
lointaines.  I^e  statuaire  a  tent£  de  rendre 
ce  caractere. 

L,a  physionomie  de  son  h£ros  exprime 
aussi,  Ton  peut  s'en  rendre  compte,  cette 
loyaute,  cette  honngtet^,  ce  souci  d'ordre 
de  discipline  auquel  les  notables  de  Phila- 


Supplementary  Papers 


543 


delphie  rendaient  hommage.  Tel  quel, 
ROCHAMBEAU  e'tait  bien  I'homme  qu'il 
convenait  d'envoyer  aux  "insurgents" 
d'Amerique  pour  leur  prgter  main-forte. 
Un  officier  de  cour,  brave  mais  leger  et 
libertin,  n'eut  pas  fait  1'affaire  en  pr£- 
sence  de  ces  colons,  intransigeants  dans 
leurs  ideeset  souvent  defiantsa  regard  des 
Strangers. 

On  sait  que  les  restes  du  vaillant  mare- 
chal  reposent  dans  le  petit  cimetiere  de 
ThoreY distant  de  deux  kilometres  du  cha 
teau  de  Rochambeau  ou  le  compagnon 
d'armes  de  Lafayette  rendit  le  dernier 
soupir  en  1807.  I,e  mausol£e  qui  les  ren- 
ferme,  en  marbre  noiret  blanc,  est  entoure 
d'une  grille  en  fer  forge.  On  y  lit  1'epi- 
taphe  du  mar^chal  composed  par  le  che- 
vatier  de  Boufflers,  et  qui  est  un  resume 
succinct  et  glorieux  de  sa  carriere  mili- 
taire. 

Les  rnemoires  du  mar^chal  de  ROCHAM 
BEAU  out  ete  publics,  mais  la  correspon- 
daiice  qu'il  echangea  avec  Washington  est 
encore  enfouie  dans  la  poussiere  d'une 
bibliotheque.  Cette  correspondance,  dont 
une  petite  partie  a  ete  publiee  en  Ame- 
rique  seulement,  est  aux  mains  de  la  mar 
quise  de  Rochambeau.  (Libraire  du  Con- 
gres  a  Washington.  —  ED.) 

Au  chatau  de  Rochambeau  on  conserve 
pre'cieusement,  dans  une  petite  vitrine,  le 
baton  du  mar^chal  de  ROCHAMBEAU,  re- 
couvert  de  velours  bleu  et  parseme  de  fleurs 
de  Us,  ainsi  que  I'ep^e  avec  laquelle  il  fit 
1'expedition  d'Amerique. 

C'est,  comme  on  sait,  un  Francais,  M.  P. 
Hamar,  qui  est  1'auteur  du  monument. 
Cestatuaire,  detail  curieux,  estsourd-muet. 
Mais  cette  particularity  ne  1'a  pas  emp£ch£ 
de  suivre  sa  vocation,  et  sous  la  direction 
de  MM.  Cavelier,  Barras  et  Choppin,  de 
devenir  un  artiste  de  valeur.  C'est  lui  qui 
a  execute  la  belle  statue  du  vaillant  soldat 
qui  se  dresse  sur  la  place  Saint-Martin,  a 
Venddme. 

La  c6remonie  d'inauguration  de  la  statue 
erigee  a  Washington,  aux  frais  du  gouver- 
nement  des  Etats-Unis,  a  ete  une  veritable 
manifestation  d'amitie  franco-ameVicaine. 
Non  seulement  on  voyait  c6te  a  cote  les  plus 
hauts  represeiitants  de  la  R6publique  des 
Etats-Unis  et  les  envoyes  du  President  Lou- 
bet,  grouped  sous  les  plis  des  drapeaux  f  ran- 
Sais  et  am£ricains,  mais  en  outre  un  fort 


detachement  de  fusiliers  marinsdebarqu£s 
du  cuirass^  le  Gaulois  6tait  sous  lesarmes, 
a  c6t6  des  compagnies  de  d£barquement 
fournierspar  1'escadre  americaineactuelle- 
ment  a  Annapolis.  Knfin,  tous  les  discours 
prononc£s  par  les  representants  des  deux 
pays  ont  et^  autant  d'hommages  rendus  a 
la  vieille  alliance  qui  unit  la  France  et 
les  Etats-Unis,  et  dont  le  souvenir  tou- 
jours  vivace  se  transmet  de  g£n6ration  en 
generation. 

I^a  c^remonie d'inauguration  devaitcom- 
mencer  a  onze  heures  du  matin,  maislong- 
tempsavant  Theurefixee,  les  rues  de  Wash 
ington  etaient  pleines  de  monde.  On  peut 
dire  que  la  population  de  la  capitale  n'a  pas 
pris  moins  d'int^r^t  que  le  monde  oflficiel  a 
la  manifestation  en  1'honneurde  ROCHAM 
BEAU  et  de  1'amitie  franco-ame'ricaine. 

De  grand  matin,  les  curieux  s'elaient  por- 
t^s  dans  Pennsylvania  avenue  sur  le  pas 
sage  du  bataillon  de  fusiliers  marins,  dd- 
barqu^  du  Gaulois  et  arrive1  d'Annapolis 
par  un  train  special.  I,e  bataillon  £tait  pre- 
ced6  de  la  musique  des  6quipagesde  la  flotte, 
et  suividedeuxpetites  pieces  de  canon  trai 
nees  a  la  bretelle.  I^'excellente  tenue  et  le 
pittoresque  costume  des  marins  f  rancais  ont 
produit  la  meilleure  impression.  A|diverses 
reprises,  des  acclamations  ont  salu6  les 
hommesdu  Gaulois.  A  son  arriv£eau  square 
Lafayette  ou  venaient  de  se  d€pl  .yer  les 
detachments  de  troupes  regulieres,  de  ma 
rins  et  de  gardes  nationaux,  qui  allaient  as- 
sister  &  la  c6r6monie,  le  bataillon  franfais 
a  ete  accueilliavec  Iaplusgrandecordialit6 
par  les  officiers,  les  soldats  et  les  marins 
americains. 

Le  President  Roosevelt  et  les  membres  du 
cabinet  sont  arrives  au  square  Lafayette  un 
peu  avant  onze  heures.  Deux  estrades 
avaient  ete  elevees,  Tune,  pres  du  monu 
ment  ROCH  AMBEAU.etaitdestineeau  monde 
officiel.  Le  President  Roosevelt,  les  mem 
bres  du  cabinet  federal,  les  senateurs  et 
les  representants,  1'ambassadeur  de  France, 
le  general  Brugdre,  les  membres  de  la  mis 
sion  f  rancaise,  M.  et  Mme.  de  Rochambeau, 
M.  de  Sahune  de  Lafayette,  etc.,  y  ont  pris 
place.  Du  c6te  sud  de  Pennsylvania  ave 
nue,  pres  du  coin  de  la  Maison  Blanche,  se 
trouvait  la  seconde  estrade  qui  etait  bond6e 
d'invites,  parmi  lesquels  on  remarquait 
beaucoup  de  person nes  venues  de  New- 
York,  de  Philadelphie,  de  Baltimore,  etc. 


544 


Supplementary  Papers 


M.  Roosevelt  et  les  autres  representants 
du  gouvernement  et  du  congres  des  Etats- 
Unis£taient,comme  tou  jours,  vgtusde  noir; 
la  simplicity  de  leurs  costumes  faisait 
ressortir  1' eclat  des  uniformes  des  nom- 
breux  officiers  fran£ais  et  atn6ricains  qui 
entouraient  le  President.  l,es  uniformes 
de  1'armee  francaise,  qui  tie  sont  pas  connus 
aux  Etats-Unis,  excitaient  une  vive  curi- 
osit6.  lye  pantalon  rouge,;ies  nombreuses 
decorations  et  le  chapeau  a  plumes 
blanches  du  general  Brugere  attirait  tout 
particulierement  1'attention,  ainsi  que  le 
casque  du  capitaine  Iyasson,  qui  est  bfficier 
de  cuirassiers. 

I<a  ceremonie  a  commence  par  une  invo 
cation  du  rev.  D.  J.  Stafford,  cur6  de 
1'eglise  catholique  'de  Saint-Patrice,  qui 
remplagait  le  cardinal  Gibbons,  emp£che. 

DISCOURS    DU  PRESIDENT  ROOSEVELT 

lye  President  Roosevelt  s'est  leve  ensuite  j 
pour  prendre  la  parole.     II  a  ete  accueilli  j 
par  une    salve  d'applaudissements.     Des 
que  le  silence  s'est  fait,  M.  Roosevelt  a 
prononce    en    anglais    un    discours    fort 
61ogieux  pour  la  France  et  pour  la  mission 
fran£aise.     EU  voici  la  traduction: 

"  M.  1'ambassadeur  et  vous  messieurs  les 
representants  de  la  puissante  Republique 
francaise,  au  nom  du  peuple  des  Etats- 
Unis,  je  vous  souhaite  la  bienvenue.  Nous 
apprecions  pleinement  tout  ce  que  signifie 
cette  mission  extraordinaire,  choisie  par 
M.  I,oubet  pour  repr£senter  la  France  a 
1'inauguration  du  monument  du  grand 
marechalqui  avec  les  soldats  et  les  marins 
de  la  France  a  frapp£  le  coup  d6cisif  dans 
cette  guerre  qui  a  permis  a  ce  pays  de 
devenir  independant  et  de  marcher  de  pair 
avec  les  autres  nations. 

"  Je  suis  persuade  que  je  ne  fais  qu'expri- 
mer  les  sentiments  de  tous  les  citoyens  des 
Etats-Unis,  qui  sont  fiers  de  la  place  que 
tient  notre  Republique  dans  Thistoire;  en 
disant  que  nous  apprecions  beaucoup  cette 
nouvelle  preuve  d'amitie  que  vient  de 
nous  donner  la  France,  non  seulement 
parce  que  nous  sommes  necessairement 
heureux  de  voir  un  pays  aussi  puissant  en 
temps  de  paix  et  en  temps  de  guerre, 
comme  la  France  1'a  toujours  prouve,  venir 
chez  nous;  mais  aussi  parce  qu'apres  un 
siecle  et  quart  la  Republique  fran9aise  apu 


appr£cier  que  nous  avons  merit6  les  sacri 
fices  qu'elle  a  fails  pour  nous. 

"  Je  suis  certain  que  tous  les  citoyens  des 
Etats-Unis  seront  £galement  heureux  de 
voir  les  representants  de  la  France  venir 
en  Am£rique  au  moment  meme  ou  nous 
venons  de  fonder  une  r£publique  sceur,  la 
Republique  de  Cuba. 

"M.  1'Ambassadeur,  le  peuple am£ricain, 
sp£cialement  parce  qu'il  est  le  peuple 
am£ricain  et  que  1'histoire  des  Etats-Unis 
a  et6  si  souvent  mglee  a  celle  de  la  France 
qui  a  tant  fait  pour  nous,  parce  qu'aussi, 
en  m£me  temps  que  le  monde  entier,  nous 
recoiinaissons  que  la  France,  sur  bien  des 
points,  vient  a  la  tgte  du  progres  et  de  la 
civilisation — le  peuple  am£ricain,  que  je 
represente,  vous  remercie  et  vous  prie 
€galement  de  remercier  en  son  nom  les 
membres  de  la  mission  ici  presents,  le  Pre 
sident  Loubet  et  toute  la  nation  franfaise 
pour  1'acte  Iui-m6me  et  1'idee  magnanime 
qui  1'a  inspire."  [Applaudissements  pro- 
longes.] 

Aussit6t  apres  le  discours  du  President 
Roosevelt,  la  comtesse  de  Rochatubeau, 
qui  etait  assise  derriere  M.  Roosevelt,  s'est 
avancee  et  a  tir6  les  cordes  qui  devaient 
faire  tomber  le  voile  de  drapeaux  francais 
et  am^ricains  sous  lequel  la  statue  de 
Rochambeau  £tait  cach£e  aux  yeux  du  pu 
blic.  Mais  les  cordes  r£sistaient  et  le 
voile  ne  tombait  pas,  ce  que  voyant  le  Pre 
sident  et  M.  Cambon  firent  ensemble  le 
meme  mouvement  pour  venir  en  aide  a 
Mme.  Rochambeau.  I^e  President  arriva 
le  premier  pour  saisir  les  cordes,  et  ce  fut 
lui  qui,  d'un  coup  vigoureux,  fit  tomber  le 
voile.  Mais  un  des  drapeaux  s'accrocha 
a  la  lance  de  la  I,ibert6  armee  et  un  autre 
a  la  main  gauche  de  Rochambeau.  L,e 
premier  fut  enlev6  par  un  des  marins  de 
1' Alabama,  mais  le  second  6tait  si  bien 
accroche  que  le  President  donna  finale- 
ment,  d'une  voix  forte,  1'ordre  dele  laisser 
en  place  et  de  continuer  la  ceremonie. 

Iyorsque  sont  apparus  les  traits  du  coura- 
geux  general  fran9ais,  dont  le$  Etats-Unis 
commemorent  aujourd'hui  les  services,  les 
applaudissements  ont  eclat£;  les  femmes 
agitaient  leurs  mouchoirs,  pendant  que  la 
munique  de  1'infanteriede  marine  jouait  la 
"Marseillaise."  Aussit6t  aprds,  le  sculp- 
teur  Hamar  auteur  du  monument,  a  ete 
presente  aux  assistants.  II  s'est  incline  et 
s'est  retire  presque  imm£diatement. 


Supplementary  Papers 


545 


DISCOURS    DE    M.  CAMBON 

M.  Jules  Cambon,  anibassadeur  de 
France,  a  ensuite  pris  la  parole.  Void  le 
discours  qu'il  a  pronounc6  en  francais: 

"  L'art  de  la  France  et  la  generosity  du 
congres  americain  se  sont  unis  pour  clever 
ce  monument  a  la  m£moire  du  marechal  de 
ROCHAMBEAU.  Ainsi  se  trouve  glorifie  le 
general  de  1'armee  fran?aise  qui  combattit 
pour  1'independaiice  de  1' Am£rique  sous  les 
ordres  de  Washington.  I,a  nation  ameri- 
caine  avait  deja,  et  non  loin  d'ici,  consacre 
la  gloire  des  jeunes  et  enthousiastes  Fran 
cais  qui,  des  le  debut  et  11  ecoutant  que  le 
vosu  secret  de  toute  la  nation  fransaise, 
apporterent,  avec  Lafayette,  leur  epee  aux 
treize  colonies.  II  etait  juste  que  ceux-l& 
aussi  fussent  honoris  qui  vinrent  ici  par 
1'ordre  du  gouvernement  de  la  France,  et 
qui,  ob£issant  a  leur  devoir,  le  remplirent 
tout  etitier  et  assurerent  le  succes  definitif. 
Dans  la  personne  de  ROCHAMBEAU,  c'est 
l'arm£e  de  la  France,  ce  sont  ses  regi 
ments,  ses  officiers  inconnus,  ses  soldats 
obscurs  qui  sont  glorifies  avec  leur  chef. 

"  1,'honneur  est  pour  moi  bien  grand  de 
prendre  ici  la  parole  comme  ambassadeur 
de  la  Republique  Fran9aise  et  de  vous 
remercier  tous  ici,  qui  repr^sentez  le  gou 
vernement,  la  magistrature  et  le  congres 
des  Etats-Unis,  de  l'hommage  rendu  a 
1'homme  qui  fit  triompher  pour  la  derni£re 
fois  le  drapeau  fieurdelyse'  de  la  vieille 
France.  Aujourd'hui,  la  Republique  Fran 
caise  a  envoye  vers  vous  une  mission  qui  a 
pour  chef  le  plus  Eminent  de  nos  officiers 
gen£raux,  le  general  Brugere.  Comme 
lui,  l'arm£e  et  la  marine  francaise  avec  une 
sorte  de  pi£t6  nationale,  f€tent  la  memoire 
de  leurs  aines,  serviteurs  comme  elles  de 
la  liberte. 

"ROCHAMBEAU  fut  un  chef  exact,  disci 
pline,  severe,  courageux  et  soucieux  de  la 
vie  de  ses  soldats;  il  rappelait  quelquefois 
aux  jeunes  gens  qui  1'entouraient,  que, 
pendant  le  cours  de  sa  longue  carriere  mi- 
litaire,  15,000  homines  £taient  morts  sous 
ses  ordres,  mais  qu'il  ne  pouvait  se  re- 
procher  la  mort  d'aucun  d'eux.  Par  la,  il 
conquit,  pour  notre  arm£e,  1'estime  de 
votre  nation  et,  pour  lui-mgme,  1'affection 
de  votre  grand  Washington. 

"Ainsi,  ce  monument,  qui  ne  semble  des 
tine  qu  a  evoquer  des  souvenirs  de  guerre 

S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 35 


est  par  le  caractere  de  la  lutte  qu'il  rappelle 
etde  rhomme  qu'il  glorifie,  un  monument 
d'union  entre  deux  peuples.  Aujourd'hui, 
comme  il  y  cent  vingt  ans,  les  soldats  et 
les  matins  de  la  France  et  des  Etats-Unis 
sont  c6te  a  c6te,  ils  entourent  ce  monu 
ment;  ils  marchent  sous  le  mgme  com- 
mandement;  ils  mglent  ensemble  leurs 
chants  nationaux  et  en  honorant  leur  gloire 
commune  ils  donnent  au  monde  1'exemple 
de  la  fidelit^  dans  1'amitie1. 

"Cette  amitie,  vous  nous  1'avez  prou- 
v£e:  Un  6venemeiit  tragique,  une  catastro 
phe  telle  que  le  monde  n'en  a  point  connu 
depuis  vingt  siecles,  vient  de  frapper  les 
Antilles  francaises.  L,e  President  des 
Etats-Unis,  le  congres  et  la  nation  anieri- 
caine  ont  rivalise  de  generosity  et  de 
promptitude  pour  secourir  nos  malheureux 
concitoyens.  Qu'il  me  soit  permis  de 
saisir  cette  occasion  solennelle  et  de 
remercier  publiquement,  au  nom  de  mon 
gouvernement  et  de  mon  pays,  vous,  mon 
sieur  le  President,  et  le  peuple  des  Etats- 
Unis  tout  entier. 

"Par  la,  vous  avez  montr6  que  quelque 
chose  de  nouveau  etait  ne  entre  les  nations; 
qu'un  lien  de  sympathie  desinteress£e  et 
de  bont£  pouvait  les  unir,  et  que  les  idees 
de  justice  et  de  liberte\  pour  lesquelles  nos 
peres  avaient  combattu  ensemble,  il  y  a 
cent  vingt  ans,  avaient  fructide  dans  le 
coeur  des  hommes. 

"Un  peu  plus  d'humanit£  est  entr6  dans 
les  rapports  des  peuples  entre  eux.  Il  y  a 
trois  ans,  nous  avons  vu  les  representants 
de  tous  les  pays  se  r6unir  pour  chercher 
les  moyens  d'assurer  le  maintien  de  la  paix 
entre  les  nations.  Par  une  heureuse  coin 
cidence,  au  moment  meme  ou  je  parle,  le 
jeune  et  g£nereux  souverain  qui  avait  con- 
voque  le  congres  de  la  paix  a  la  Haye, 
et  le  President  de  la  Republique  Francaise 
se  trouvent  reunis  a  Saint-Pelersbourg. 

"Ainsi  se  manifestent  partout  et  sur  les 
points  les  plus  61oign£s  de  la  terre,  les 
m£mes  sentiments  d'union  entre  les  re 
presentants  les  plus  £l£v£s  des  nations. 

"Ce  ne  sont  pas  la  des  manifestations 
steriles.  L,e  monde,  a  mesure  qu'il  prend 
plus  conscience  de  lui-m£me,  est  plus  s£- 
vere  pour  ceux  qui  veulent  le  troubler,  et, 
quand  on  mesure  1'oeuvre  accompli  depuis 
que  Washington  et  ROCHAMBEAU  combat- 
taient  ensemble  pour  le  bien  de  1'huma- 


546 


Supplementary .  Papers 


nite,  on  peut  juger  qu'ils  n'ont  pas  com- 
battu  en  vain. 

''Ce  monument  en  portera  temoignage 
aux  yeux  des  generations  qui  viendront 
apr£s  nous." 

Tous  ceux,  et  ils  etaient  nombreux,  qui 
comprenaient  le  fran9aisdans  1'assistance, 
ont  chaleureusement  applaudi  les  heu- 
reuses  paroles  de  M.  Cambon. 

DISCOURS  DU  GENERAL  PORTER 

L,a  musique  des  equipages  de  la  flotte,  qui 
etait  placee  preS  de  1'estrade,  a  joue  ensuite 
un  air  patriotique. 

Puis  le  general  Porter,  ambassadeur  des 
Ktats-Unis  en  France,  s'est  leve  au  milieu 
des  applaudissements  et  a  parie  avec  elo 
quence  des  services  rendus  par  ROCHAM- 
BEAU  a  la  cause  de  1'independance  ameri 
caine.  V6ici  uh  extrait  de  son  discours, 
que  nous  regrettons  de  ne  pouvoir  publier 
en  entier: 

"Pour  bien  appr6cier  la  sinc£rit£  du 
caractere  de  ROCHAMBEAU,  tel  qu'il  s'est 
deVeloppe  dans  sa  campagne  americaine, 
nous  devons  nous  souvenir  qu'il  faisait 
partie  de  la  vieille  noblesse  francaise,  qu'il 
etait  porteur  de  decorations  qui  lui  avaient 
ete  decernees  par  des  mains  royales  et  que, 
malgre  tout,  il  venait  ici  gagner  des  ba- 
tailles  dans'  Tinte>6t  de  principes  avanc^s 
republicains.  Ce  n'est'  pas  sa  patrie  pour 
laquelle  il  sebattait;  il  n'avait  pas  1'inten- 
tion  de  rester  ici  pour  participer  &  la  pros- 
perite  que  devait  amener  le  succes;  il 
n'avait  pas,  par  consequent,  la  force  du 
patriotisme  pour  1'animer. 

"II  vint  sur  nos  rives  avec  une  fiere 
armee,  admirablement  equip^e  et  disci- 
plineea  la  severe  ecole  d'une  des  premieres 
puissances  militaires  du  vieiix  mbnde,  pour 
se  trouver  associe  3.  la  modeste  'yeomanry' 
des  colonies  qui  constituait  les  forces 
americaines.'dont  les  hommes  n'avaient  pas 
suffisamment  de  vetements  pour  couvrir 
leurs  honorables  blessures,  etdont  on  pou- 
vait  retracer  les  marches  en  suivant  les 
empreintes  sanglantes  que  laissaient  les 
pieds  de  ces  heros  sans  chaussures. 

"lyes  communications  frequentes  avec  la 
France  etaient  impossibles  et  on  avait 
donn£  &  ROCHAMBEAU  liberte  d'action 
presqtie  complete.  Dans  ces  circonstances, 
uri  homme  de  moins  de  modestie,  de  moins 
de  magnanimitede  caractere  etd'un  esprit 


moins  conciliant  aurait  abuse  de  sa  posi 
tion,  se  serait  montre  arrogant  et  mal  dis 
pose  4  considerer  des  plans  qui  lui  etaient 
presentes  par  le  commandant  des  forces' 
americaines;  mais  il  manifesta,  des  le  de-' 
but,  sa  volonte  d'adopter  toutes  les  mesures 
qui  pourraient  faciliter  les  operations  mili 
taires  simultanees  sur  ce  difficile  theatre' 
de  la  guerre  et  mit  de  c6te  toutes  conside 
rations  autres  que  celles  qui  pouvaient 
conduire  au  succ£s  complet  des  forces 
alliees. 

"  Dans  toutes  leurs  relations,  ils  se  mon- 
trerent  tous  deux  fiddles  au  principe  'qu'il 
est  temps  d'abanddnuer  le  sentier  de  l"am- 
bition  quand  il  devient  si  etroit  qu'on-ne 
peut  y  marcher  deux  de  front.' 

"  ROCHAMBEAU,  en  debarquant  sur  nos: 
rivages,  definit  sa  'politique  vis-a-vis  des 
Americains  en  ces  paroles  explicites:  'Je 
suis  1'ami  de  leurs  amis  et  1'ennemi  de 
leurs  ennemis.'  Sa  modestie  etait  pro- 
verbiale.  II  dit  dans  ses  memoires,'  en 
parlant  de  la  reddition  de  Yorktbwnr 
'  I,ord  Cornwallis  etait  malade  et  le  g6ne-' 
ral  O'Hara  sortit  a  la  tete  de  la  garnison." 
En  arrivant,  il  me  presente  son  sabre.  Je 
lui  designai  le  general  Washington,  le  chef 
de  1'armee  americaine,  et  lui  dis  que, 
1'armee  francaise  n'etant  qu'auxiliaire  sur 
ce  continent,  c'etait  au  general  americain 
qu'il  devait  s'adresser  pour  en  recevoir  des 
ordres.'  " 

I,a  musique  de  1'infanterie  de  la  marine 
a  'joue  un  air  patriotique,  pendant  que  le 
general  Porter  recevait  les  felicitations  des 
persohnes  quiTentouraient. 

DISCOURS  DU  SENATEUR  LODGE 

•  ',-••'' 

M.  Henry  Cab'ot  Lodge,  senateur  du  Masr 
sachusetts,  a  ensuite  prononce  son  discours, 
le  plus  important  de  la  journee.  On  peut 
dire  que  ce  discours  est  reellement  re- 
marquable,  non  seulemerit  au  point  de  vue 
du  style,  mais  aussi  par  les  remarquables 
vues  d'ensemble  qu'il  contient,  sur  le  r61e 
de  la  France  en  Amerique  et  sur  1'iiiflu- 
ence  qu'a  eue  1^  guerre  de  1'Independance 
americaine  sur  les  hommes  qui  firent  plus 
tard  la  Revolution  francaise  de  1789.  Voici 
le  passage  de  ce  discours  dans  lequel  M. 
I,odge  a  rendu  un  eloquent  hommage  aux 
services  du  compagnon  d'armes  de  Wash 
ington: 


Supplementary  Papers 


547 


"ROCHAMBEAU  arriva  aux  Etats-Unis 
dans  un  moment  bien  triste  pour  la  cause 
americaine.  L,e  premier  elan  de  resistance 
s'etait  refroidi,  la  lutte  active  s'etait  apai- 
s6e  dans  le  Nord,  le  congres  etait  devenu 
faible  et  inerte,  le  gouvernement  et  les 
finances  languissaientet  Ton  pouvait  croire 
que  la  revolution,  si  heureuse  sur  les 
champs  de  bataille,  se  serait  effondree  sur 
les  rochers  de  1'incapacite  politique  et  exe 
cutive.  Washington  et  1'armee,  seuls  au 
milieu  des  difficultes  sans  pareilles,  soute- 
naient  la  cause.  1,'arrivee  de  ROCHAMBEAU 
et  de  son  arm£e  etait  un  grand  coup  de  la 
fortune,  et  cependant  son  premier  r£sultat 
fut  d'augmenter  1'inertie  du  congr£s. 
Washington,  comprenant  1'importance  de 
1'eVeneinent,  se  mit  immediatement  en 
correspondance  avec  ROCHAMBEAU,  mais 
ce  ne  fut  qu'au  mois  de  septembre  qu'il 
put  voir  le  general  fran9ais  en  personne  a 
Hartford.  Ce  fut  un  grand  soulagement 
pour  le  general,  sur  qui  pesaient  tant  de 
responsabilites,  de  rencontrer  un  homme 
tel  que  ROCHAMBEAU  et  cependant,  tandis 
qu'il  revenait,  lecceurieger,  les  esperances 
plus  grandes,  la  nouvelle  de  la  trahison 
d'Arnold  1'abattit  de  nouveau  £  son  arrivee 
a  West  Point.  I/ete  s'etait  ecouie,  et  rien 
n'avait  ete  fait.  Alors  ROCHAMBEAU  re- 
fusait  d'agir  sans  renforts,  et  Washington 
luttait  desesperement  pourobtenir  du  con- 
gr£s  hesitant  et  des  Etats  mal  disposes,  les 
hommes,  1'argent  et  les  subsides  absolu- 
ment  necessaires,  si  Ton  ne  voulait  pas 
laisser  echapper  1'occasion  qui  se  presen- 
tait.  L/hiver  se  passa,  et  le  printemps  re- 
vint.  En  mai,  Washington  et  ROCHAM 
BEAU  etaient  de  nouveau  en  consultation. 
Washington  etait  decide  a  porter  un  coup 
fatal  quelque  part.  II  pensa  a  la  Floride 
et  se  proposait  d'attaquer  les  Anglais,  sous 
Rawdon,  par  derri£re ;  il  songea  a  la  Vir- 
ginie  ou  Cornwallis,  force  vers  le  Nord  par 
le  stratageme  de  Greene,  etait  etabli  avec 
son  armee ;  longtemps  il  tourna  ses  vues 
vers  New- York,  le  centre  de  la  puissance 
anglaise.  ROCHAMBEAU  montra  son  intel 
ligence  militaire  en  penchant  fortement 
pour  la  Virginie.  Mais  la  condition  princi- 
pale  manquait  encore.  Washington  savait 
qu'il  devait  se  rendre  maitre  de  la  mer,  ne 
serait-ce  que  pour  uii  mois,  au  point  ou  il 
voulait  porter  le  coup  decisif.  L,es  jours  se 
passe^ent  ainsi,  rete  s'ecoula  et  alors,  tout 


d'uncoup,  lavierevint.  De>Grasse,;envers 
qui  nous  devons  une  dette  aussi '  grande 
qu'envers  ROCHAMBEAU,  apparut  dans  la 
Cheasapeake  avec  sa  flotte.  Il  n'y  >avait 
plus  de  doute  possible,  Cornwallis  en  Vir 
ginie  etait  maintenant  le  point  de  mire  des 
forces  alliees. 

"I,e  temps  me  manque  pour  faire  le  re- 
cit  de  cette  brillante  campagne;  pour  dire 
comment  de  Barras  fut  pousse  a  amerier 
!  son  escadre  du  Nord,  comment  Clinton  flit 
!  trompe  a  New- York,  avec  quelle  rapidite 
les  armees  americaine  et  fran£aise  furent 
transportees  de  New- York  a  la  Chesapeake 
]  et  de  la  a  Yorktown.    X'heure,  si  long- 
i  temps  attendue  par  Washington,  ou  il  pour- 
rait  unir  les  forces  navales  et  militaires, 
I  avait  enfin  sonne.     De  Grasse  etait  maitre 
j  de  la  baie.     I,a  flotte  anglaise  etait  dispef- 
:  see.     Clinton  restait  inactif  a  New- York 
;  et  Cornwallis,  avec  9,000  hommes,  etait  a 
Yorktown  presse  par  les  armees  alliees  de 
i  Washington  et  de  ROCHAMBEAU.    I«e  siege 
suivit,  les  lignes  d'investissement  se  res- 
I  serraient,  I^auzun  fit  battre  en  retraite  la 
cavalerie  de  Tarton  d£s  le  debut,  et,  depuis 
ce  jour-la,  toute  sortie  des  Anglais  fut  re- 
I  poussee.     Chaque  jour  les  travaux  d'ap- 
'  proche  avan?aient,  et  enfin   Washington 
|  declara  que  les  redoutes  avancees  des  Aii- 
|  glais  pouvaient  £tre  assaillies.    I,es  Ffati- 
£ais  sous  Viomenil,  les  grenadiers  du  Gati- 
I  nois,  le  regiment  d'Auvergne  et  des  Dett'x- 
j  Fonts  se  jett£rent  sur  1'une  d'elles  et  c'est 
ici  que  le  plus  fameux  des  regiments  de 
France  re5ut  a  nouveau  de  son  roi  la  fie^e 
devise  ': d'Auvergne  sans  tache."    I/autre 
redoute  fut  livree  aux  Americains  sous  Xa- 
fayette,  commandes  par  Alexandre  Ham 
ilton  et  John  Laurens.     Les  deux  assarts, 
brillamment  livres,  furent  couronnes  #e 
succ^s  et  les  lignes  americaines  occup^feiit 
les    terrains    si    courageusement    gagnes. 
Une  sortie  desesperee  du  colonel  Graham 
qui  fut  compietement  repoussee,  un  essai 
infructueux  d'echapper  par  mer,  puis  tout 
fut  fini.     I,e  18  octobre  Cornwallis  se  rehdit 
et  le  jour  suivant  les  Anglais  depos^rent 
leurs  armes  en  passant  entre  les  lignes'd^s 
Fran?ais  alignes  sous  le  drapeau  blanc  et 
les  rangs  des  Americains  qui  se  tenaient 
sous  les  treize  etoiles  placees  des  ce  jour 
sur  le  firmament  des  nations.    I,a  revolu 
tion  americaine  etait  achevee,  le  nouveau 
peuple  avait  vaincu." 


548 


Supplementary  Papers 


Tout  le  monde  a  applaudi  quand  la  mu- 
sique  des  Equipages  de  la  flotte  a  jou£  le 
"Star  Spangled  Banner"  apres  que  le 
seuateur  I^odge  cut  termine  son  discours. 


DISCOURS  DU  GENERAL  BRUGERE 

I,e  general  Brugere,  comme  chef  de  la 
mission  f  rancaise  etivoyee  aux  Etats-Unis, 
a  prononce  ensuite  quelques  paroles;  il  a 
termine  en  disant :  "Entre  vous  et  nous, 
c'est  a  la  vie,  a  la  mort!"  Un  tonnerre 
d'applaudissements  a  salu6  ces  paroles  du 
g£neralissime  de  1'armee  franjaise. 

Voici  des  extraits  du  discours  du  general 
Brugere : 

"  Mon  premier  et  mon  plus  agreable  de 
voir  est  de  remercier  le  gouvernement  des 
Etats-Unis,  au  nom  de  la  mission  fran- 
£aise,  pour  avoir  invite  la  nation  fraiicaise 
&  participer  a  cette  imposante  ceremonie, 
qui  ne  peut  que  fortifier  les  liens  d'amitie 
unissant  les  cieux  nations.  Nous  sommes 
tous  tres  fiers  d'avoir  et£  choisis  pour  repre- 
senter  la  France  dans  cette  circonstance 
memorable,  d'autant  plus  que  le  monu 
ment  que  nous  avons  sous  les  yeux  n'est 
pas  seulement  destine  a  honorer  le  comte 
de  ROCHAMBEAU,  mais,  comme  le  presi 
dent  de  la  Republique  f  rancaise  le  disait  en 
1881,  a  1'occasion  de  1'inauguration  du 
monument  de  I^afayette  :  "  II  comm£mo- 
rera  les  anciens  liens  d'amitie  existant 
entre  nos  nations,  liens  qui,  maintenant 
que  nos  institutions  politiques  sont  simi- 
laires,  sont  appeles  d.  devenir  plus  forts. 

"Quand  la  France  a  pris  une  part  active 
a  la  guerre  de  1'Iiidependance,  le  droit  et 
la  liberte  etaienten  jeu,  la  cause  £tait  juste 
et  sacree.  Je  ne  veux  en  rien  diminuer 
1'aide  materielle  et  morale  que  les  troupes 
commandees  par  ROCHAMBEAU  et  de 
Grasse  ont  apportee  a  1'armee  americaine. 
±,eur  discipline  et  leur  moral  £taient  ex- 
cellents.  Ces  troupes  £taient  sous  les 
ordres  de  Washington,  et  en  consequence 
'&  lui  seul  revient  1'honneur  d'avoir  fait 
1'Amerique  libre.  Je  ne  sais  lequel  je  dois 
admirer  le  plus,  le  comte  de  ROCHAMBEAU, 
lieutenant  general  de  Tarmee  francaise, 
un  des  meilleurs  tacticiens  de  la,  guerre  de 
Sept  ans,  qui  s'£tait  mis  sans  hesitation 
sous  les  ordres  du  general  americain,  ou 
George  Washington  qui  estimaittellement 


le  general  f  rancais  qu'il  paraissait  toujours 
le  consulter  plutdt  que  de  le  commander 

"Dans  une  lettre  £crite  en  1786,  Wash 
ington  dit :  'Iva  sincerite,  1'honneur,  la 
bravoure  de  vos  troupes,  le  grand  patrio- 
tisme  et  la  delicate  sympathie  qui  anime 
tant  de  vos  compatriotes  avec  lesquels  je 
puis  dire  que  je  suis  intimement  H6,  et, 
par-dessus  tout,  1'intergt  que  votre  illustre 
monarque  et  ses  loyaux  sujets  ont  pris  au 
succ£s  de  la  cause  americaine  et  au  d£- 
veloppement  de  riotre  independance,  nous 
ont  rendu  votre  nation  chere,  ont  form^ 
des  liens  et  laisse  des  impressions,  que  ni 
le  temps  ni  les  circonstances  ne  peuvent 
detruire.' 

"Telles  sont,  messieurs,  les  dernieres 
pensees  de  Washington.  Elles  trouvent 
un  6cho  dans  notre  cceur  apres  1'amicale 
reception  que  vous  avez  faite  3.  la  mission 
fran9aise  ;  apr^s  les  ovations  avec  lesquel- 
les  vous  nous  avez  accueillis,  apres  les 
eloquents  et  patriotiques  discours  que  nous 
venons  d'entendre  et  aussi,  apres  les  gene- 
reuses  preuvcs  de  sympathie  que  la  nation 
americaine  a  donnees  dernierement  a  nos 
malheureux  compatriotes  de  la  Martinique. 
Et  pour  finir,  je  repete  les  mots  que  RO 
CHAMBEAU  a  prononc6s  en  1781  :  "Entre 
vous  et  nous,  c'est  a  la  vie,  a  la  mort ! " 

I,a  c^remonie  s'est  terminee  par  la  bene 
diction  de  la  statue  par  Mgr.  Satterlee,  evg- 
que  de  Washington. 

Immediatement  apres,  le  President 
Roosevelt,  les  membres  du  cabinet,  la 
mission  frai^aise  et  les  personnes  qui 
avaient  assisle  &  1'inauguration  de  la 
statue  ont  traverse  Pennsylvania  avenue 
et  se  sont  rendus  dans  la  tribune  £levee  au 
coin  de  la  Maison  Blanche  pour  assister 
au  defile. 

A  un  signal  donne,  les  troupes  qui,  pen 
dant  la  c6remonie,  s'£taient  rangees  dans 
les  environs  du  departement  du  tr6sor,  se 
sont  mises  en  marche. 

En  t£te  veuait  la  police,  puis  le  inajor- 
gen^ral  Young,  monte  sur  un  magnifique 
cheval  d'armes.  l^e  general  Young  com- 
mandait  la  brigade  des  Rough  Riders  qui 
se  sont  battus  a  I,as  Guasimas  en  1898; 
lorsqu'il  est  passe  Levant  le  President  qui 
1'avait  eu  autrefois  sous  ses  ordres,  M. 
Roosevelt  a  repondu  a  son  salut  militaire 
d'une  facon  des  plus  amicales.  A  cote  de 
lui  se  tenaieiit  le  lieutenant-colonel  John 


Supplementary  Papers 


549 


A.  Johns  et  un  nombreux  etat-major  com 
post  d'officiers  de  terre  et  de  mer. 

L,e  cortege  £tait  compost  de  deux  bri 
gades.  L,a  premiere,  commandee  par  le 
lieutenant-colonel  E.  D.  Dimniick  du  2« 
cavalerie,  £tait  composed  entitlement  de 
soldats  de  I'arme'e  reguliere  et-chi  bataillon 
des  marins  fusiliers  du  Gaulois. 

I/ordre  de  marche  etait  le  "suivant:  un 
bataillon  du  g£nie,  un  bataillon  d'infan- 
terie  de  marine,  le  bataillon  cks  raarins  du 
Gaulois  qui  a  £t6  tres  applaudi,  la  4«bat- 
terie  d'artillerie,  un  escadron  du  2"  cava 
lerie  et  une  ambulance. 

L,a  seconde  brigade  elait  cornmand6e  par 
le  brigadier  g£u£ral  George  H.  Harries,  de 
la  garde  nationale  du  District  de  Colombie. 
Elle  £tait  composed  d'une  compagnie  du 
genie,  des  ier  et  2e  regiments  d'infanterie 
d'une  compagnie  du  service  des  signaux 
et  d'un  bataillon  de  la  milice  navale. 

1,'escorte  personnelle  du  President  et 
des  membres  du  cabinet  elait  forme'e  d'un 
detachement  de  milice,  dont  les  homines 
avaient  rev£tu  1'uniforme  des  volontaires 
de  la  guerre  de  I'lnd6pendance.  • 

I,orsque  M.  Roosevelt  s'est  retir£,  il  a 
et£  salu£,  comme  a  son  arfive"e,  par  les 
hourras  de  la  foule  nombreuse  que  la  c£r6- 
monie  avait  attir£e.  On  a  beaucoup  re- 
marque1  l'int£ret  personnel  que  prenait  le 
President  a  tous  les  incidents  de  la  c£re"- 
monie.  t,orsque  le  voile  de  la  statue  est 
tombe",  une  salve  d'artillerie  a  £t£  tire"e  par 
une  batterie  de  grosses  pieces  placets  dans 
le  pare  de  la  Maison  Blanche,  les  detona 
tions  scandant  Tair  national  francais  que 
jouait  la  musique  de  1'infanterie  de  ma 
rine.  A  ce  moment,  c'est  le  President  lui- 
meme  qui  a  donn£  le  signal  des  hourras, 
dont  la  foule  a  salu£  la  noble  figure  de 

ROCHAMBEAU. 

Parmi  les  invites  de  la  commission  ame"- 
ricaine  on  remarquait  les  ambassadeurs 
de  Russie,  d'Allemagne,  d'Autriche-Hon- 
grie,  d'ltalie  et  du  Mexique,  mais  pour  des 
raisons  de  convenance,  les  membres  de 
I'ambassade  d'Angleterre  n'avaient  pas 
ei£  invites  le  souvenir  de  la  bataille  de 
Yorktown  n'ayant  rien  de  bien  agr£able 
pour  les  Anglais.  I,a  mort  de  lord  Paunce- 
fote,  survenue  hier  matin,  ri'aurait  d'ail- 
leurs  pas  permis  au  personnel  cle  I'am 
bassade  d'assister  a  1'inauguration  de  la 
statue. 


En  re'sume',  tout  s'est  admirablement 
pass£  dans  cette  journ^e  memorable,  dont 
le  succes  a  du  €tre  tout  particulierement 
gout6  de  M.  Jules  Bceufv6,  le  chancelier  de 
I'ambassade  de  France,  a  qui  revient  1'hon- 
neur  d'avoir  sugge're'  a  des  membres  influ 
ents  du  cqngres  Tid^e  danger  S.  Wash 
ington  la  statue  du  mare'chal  de  ROCHAM 
BEAU. 

WASHINGTON,  25  mai  1902.  —  I,es  fe"tes 
qui  ont  eu  lieu  ici,  a  1'occasion  de  la  visite 
des  envoyes  francais,  se  sonttermiii6espar 
une  reception  a  I'ambassade  de  France  ou 
M.  Canibon,  Mme.  Camboii,  le  g^n^ral 
Brugere  et  le  comte  et  la  comtesse  de  Ro- 
chambeau  ont  recu  plusieurs  centaines  de 
persoiines  notables  de  la  socie'te'  de  Wash 
ington. 

On  devait  donner  un  grand  £clat  a  cette 
f£te,  illuminer  bri'llamnient  les  jardins  de 
I'ambassade  et  donner  £galement  un  con 
cert  en  plain  air,  mais  la  mort  de  lord 
Pauncefote,  ambassadeur  d'Angleterre,  a 
fait  qu'oii  a  6t£  oblige"  de  modifier  une 
partie  du  programme.  Tyes  salons  de  I'am 
bassade  etaient  merveilleusement  de'core's 
avec  des  roses  et  des  palmes.  Trois  cents 
personnes  out  assiste"  a  cette  reception. 
Parmi  elles  se  trouvaien-t  le  corps  diplo 
matique  au  complet,  les  membres  du  cabi 
net,  un  grand  nombre  d'officiers  des  ar 
mies  de  terre  et  de  mer,  les  repr£sentants 
de  1'  American  Irish  Historical  Society  et  les 
hauls  fonctionnaijres  du  gouvernement. 
Au  cours  de  la  soire'e  un  souper  a  616  servi 
dont  voici  le  menu  : 

Bouillon  froid 
Croquettes  exquises,  Sauce  Perigueux 

Pois  nouveaux 
Jambon  de  Virginie  glace" 

I^angues  en  gel£e 

Galantine  truffee  en  Belleyue 

Salade  de  Volaille  mayonnaise 

Sandwichs  assortis 

Tartines  de  foie  gras 

Petits  pains 
Petites  exquises  Mousse  Merveilleuse 

Tutti  frutti 
Petits  Fours  assortis  Gateaux  sees 

Cerises  Marquise 
Marrons  glacis  Fruits  glacis 


Moet  &  Chahdon 
Cachet  blanc 


Moe't  &  Chandon 
Brut  Imperial 


550 


Supplementary  Papers 


,Apr£s  le  souper,  le  general  Porter,  am- 
bassadeur  des  Etats-Unis  en  France,  le 
conite  de  Rochambeau  et  les  autres  mem- 
bres  de  la  mission  out  assiste  a  une  stance 
dps  Fils  de  la  Revolution  am6ricaine.  L,e 
general  Porter,  le. conite  de  Rochambeau 
et;  ;pl.usieurs  autres  personnages  ont  en- 
sujte,  prononce.  de  courts  discours.  I^eur 
arrivee  a  ete  salute  par  de  nombreux  ap- 
plaudissements  qui  se  sont  renouveies  a 
plusieurs.  reprises.  On  a  fait  une  ovation 
ai'amiral  Schley  lorsqu'il  est  entre  dans 
la  salle  de  reception  et  s'est  assis  a  c&te  du 
general  Porter. 


LA  FETE  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  EN  FRANCE 

PARJS,  24  mat. — Un  banquet  auquel  ont 
assist^  un  grand  nombre  de  Fran£ais  et 
d'A'mericains  a  eu  lieu  ce  soir  a  I'h6tel 
Continental.  On  remarquait  dans  le  salon 
de  reception  les  portraits  de  Washington, 
de  ROCHAMBEAU  et  du  President  Roose 
velt  eritoures  de  faisceaux  de  drapeaux 
franjais  et  americains.  II  y  avait  aussi 
dans  ce  salon  la  reproduction  exacte  de 
la  statue  de  ROCHAMBEAU. 

L,a  salle  du  banquet  etait  decor£e  de  dra 
peaux  francais  et  americains  et  de  ban- 
nitres  sur  lesquelles  etaient  inscrits  les 
noms  des  differents  Etats  qui  forment  la 
Republique  Am^ricaine.  M.  Guillemot, 
maire  de  Verid6me,  pr^sidait.  Parmi  les 
personnes  pr^sentes  se  trouvaient  M.  Henri 
Vignaud,  charge  d'affaires  des  Etats-Unis 
a  Paris,  et  le  personnel  de  1'ambassade  au 
complet,  le  comte  Guy  de  Rochambeau 
frere  du  comte  de  Rochambeau  en  ce 
moment  a  Washington,  le  marquis  de 
Grasse,  le  marquis  de  Duras-Chastellux  et 
le  comte  du  Chaffault  (ces  trois  derniers 
sont  descendants  d'offi.ciers  qui  ont  com- 
battu  pour  la  revolution  americaine),  M. 
Max  O'Rell  {Paul  Blouet),  M.  Theobald 
Chartran,  ainsi'qu'un  grand  nombre  de 
Francais  et  d'Americains  bien  connus. 

M.  Guillemot  a  prononce  un  discours 
dans  lequel  il  a  retract  en  termes  flatteurs 
ia-rarrr£re  du  •mate'chal  de  ROCHAMBEAU. 

Au  milieu  d'un  tonnerre  d'applaudisse- 
me'rftsf 'M.  d'Estournelles  a  propose  de 
poire  a  la  sante  du  President  Roosevelt. 
'  iVi'^jules  Siegfried,  M.  JUzare  Weiller  et 
^professeur  L,eppold  Mabilleau  ont  £gale- 
meiit  prissla  parole  et  ont  dit  qu'ils  avaient 


£prouv£  le  plus  grand  plaisir  de  leurs  r£- 
centes  visites  aux  Etats-Unis. 

Pendant  le  banquet,  on  a  lu  la  d£pe"che 
suivante  envoy£e  par  M.  Hay,  secretaire 
d'Etat,  au  maire  de  Venddme: 

"  Monsieur  le  MAIRE:  A  1'occasioii  de  ce 
joyeux  anniversaire  (1'entree  de  ROCHAM 
BEAU  dans  1'armee  frangaise),  le  President 
me  prie  d'envoyer  les  meilleurs  compli 
ments  aux  citoyens  francais  et  americains 
reunis  a  ce  banquet  pour  ceiebrer  le  sou 
venir  de  1'amitie  de  la  France  et  de 
1'Amerique." 

I«a  reponse  suivante  a  ete  envoyee  a 
M.  Hay  par  le  maire  de  Venddme: 

"  Je  viens  de  recevoir  votre  aimable  tele- 
gramme  et  1'ai  lu  aux  Americains  et  aux 
Francais  presents  au  banquet.  Nous  vous 
remercions  de  tout  cceur  devos  bonnes  pa 
roles.  Ayez  1'obligeance  de  transmettre 
au  President  Roosevelt  les  respectueux 
hommages  des  personnes  ici  presentes. 
"  GUILLEMOT,  maire  de  Vendbme." 

Tous  les  journaux  de  Paris  publient  de 
longues  depgches  sur  Tinauguration  du 
monument  de  ROCHAMBEAU  a  Washing 
ton. 

WASHINGTON,  25  mat.— Dans  la  matinee, 
en  grand  uniforme,  ils  se  sont  rendus  a 
reglise  de  Saint- Patrick  ainsi  que  M.  Cam- 
bon  et  ont  assiste  a  une  messe  basse.  I,e 
cardinal  Gibbons  a  prononce  un  court 
sermon. 

II  a  rappeie  1'exemple  de  ces  mission- 
naires  fran9als  qui  autrefois  ont  traverse 
1'ocean  portant  d'une  main  aux  habitants 
de  ce  pays  le  flambeau  de  la  foi  et  de  < 
1'autre  celui  de  la  civilisation.  "Cela  est 
juste etconvenable,"  a-t-il  dit,  "devoir  les 
fils  de  la  France  s'assembler  dans  le  tem 
ple  de  Dieu  pour  remercier  le  Tout-Puis- 
saiit  des  grandes  choses  qui  ont  ete  accom- 
plies  par  leurs  ancetres,  au  point  de  vue  de 
la  religion  et  de  la  civilisation,  de  ce  cote-ci 
de  1'ocean." 

Parlant  de  ROCHAMBEAU,  le  cardinal 
Gibbons  s'est  eerie: 

"  Sans  vouloir  en  rien  diminuer  le  merite 
de  ses  compagnons  d'armes,  on  peut  affir- 
mer  qu'il  etait  le  general  le  plus  capable 
envoye  a  notre  secours  par  nos  allies  fran 
cais.  Deja  age,  ayant  fait  de  nombreuses 
campagnes,  veteran  de  la  guerre  de  sept 
ans,  calme,  energique,  homme  de  t£te, 


Supplementary  Papers 


55 1 


Washington  lui  avait  accord^  toute  sa  con- 
fiance;  c'etait  le  general  dont  il  appreciait 
le  plus  les  conseils  et  sur  lequel  il  pouyait 
le  mieux  compter. 

"I,orsque  les  troupes  ame'ricaines  com- 
mandees  par  Washington  et  celles  de  la 
France  sous  les  ordres  de  ROCHAMBEAU 
marchaient  sur  Yorktown,  Washington, 
par  politesse,  proposa  aux  troupes  fran- 
caisesde  leur  donner  le  poste  d'honneur, 
mais  ROCHAMBEAU,  se  conformant  aux 
ordres  de  son  gouvernement  et  suivaut 
aussi  son  propre  mouvement  refusa  1'ofFre 
du  g£n£ral  am^ricain.  II  voulait  ainsi 
prouver  qu'il  tenait  jusqu'au  bout  a  rester 
sovis  les  ordres  du  commandant  en  chef. 

'•  1,'armee  de  Cornwallis,  cern6e  surterre 
par  les  troupes  frangaises  et  am^ricaines 
et  ne  pouvant  s'enfuir  par  mer  ou  elle  etait 
tenue  en  respect  de  ce  c6t£  par  la  flotte  de 
1'amiral  francais  de  Grasse,  vint  acapitu- 
ler.  Ce  fait  de  guerre  est  le  plus  impor 
tant  de  ceux  qui  se  sont  passes  au  cours  de 
la  revolution  americaine. 

"  Que  I'amitie  qui  existe  entre  la  France 
et  1'Amerique — une  amitie  ciment^e  a 
repoque  mgme  ou  nous  devenions  une  na 
tion;  une  amitie  £  laquelle  nous  devons 
iiotre  existence  comme  puissance  ind6pen- 
dante  et  souveraine— puisse-t-elle,  cette 
amitie  historique,  se  perpetuer  a  jamais. 
Puissent  aussi  les  deux  plus  grandes  r6- 
publiques  du  monde  marcher  la  main  dans 
la  main  au  nom  de  la  liberte  et  des  progr£s 
de  la  civilisation. 

"Que  ce  monument  £lev6  a  ROCHAM 
BEAU  dans  la  capitale  rappelle  a  tout 
citoyen  am£ricain  qui  le  regardera  que  les 
Etats-Unis  devront  toujours  une  grande 
reconnaissance  a  la  France  de  ce  qu'elle  a 
fait  pour  eux." 

I^e  comte  et  la  comtesse  de  Rocham- 
beau  ainsi  que  le  comte  de  I,afayette  sont 
alies  visiter  dans  l'apr£s-midi  le  cime- 
tiere  d' Arlington  et  le  fort  Myer  qui  se 
trouve  dans  le  voisinage. 

L,e  President  Roosevelt  avait  invite1  les 
membres  de  la  mission  a  faire  avec  lui  une 
promenade  a  cheval.  Vers  quatre  heures, 
ils  se  r£unissaient  devant  la  Maison 
Blanche  et  guides  par  le  President  se  diri- 
geaient  vers  le  nord  de  la  ville  et  visitaient 
le  jardin  zoologique.  Partout  sur  teur 
passage  On  admirait  les  uniformes  des 
'officiers  fran^ais. 


Malheureusement,  alors  que  les  cavaliers 
se  trouvaient  dans  le  pare,  un  orage  est 
venu  a  6clater  et  les  a  obliges  a  rentrer 
plus  t6t  qu'ils  ne  1'auraient  d£sire\ 

Parmi  les  persoiines  qui  ont  pris  part  a 
cette  promenade  a  cheval  se  trouvaient:  I^e 
President  Roosevelt,  son  fils  Theodore,  sa 
fille  Alice,  le  secretaire  Root,  le  s^nateur 
L,odge,  le  general  Brug^re,  le  vice-amiral 
Fournier,  le  general  de  Chalendar  et  le 
capitaine  I^asson. 


I^es  membres  de  la  mission  fraiigaise, 
accompagn£s  de  M.  et  Mme.  Cambon,  du 
personnel  de  1'ambassade  et  du  comite  de 
reception,  sont  partis  ce  soir  a  sept  heures 
et  demie  pour  les  chutes  du  Niagara. 


ANNAPOLIS,  25  mai.—1,&  cuirass^  le  Gau- 
lots,  accompagn6  du  croiseur  Olympia  et 
des  cuirasses  Alabama  et  Kearsarge,&  Iev6 
1'ancre  a  quatre  heures  ce  matin,  en  route 
pour  New- York. 


CAPE  HENRY  (  VIRGINIE  ) ,  25  mai.—L,e  cui- 
rass£  le  Gaulois  est  pass6  au  large  de  Cape 
Henry  ce  soir  a  quatre  heures  vingt  mi 
nutes. 


AUX  CHUTES  DU  NIAGARA 

BUFFALO  (N.-Y.),  26  mai. — I^es  membres 
de  la  mission  du  g6n6ral  Brugere,  M.  C^m- 
bon,  ambassadeur  de  France,  Mme.  Cam 
bon,  le  personnel  de  1'ambassade  et  M. 
Peirce,  sous-secretaire  d'Etat,  ont  pass6 
une  tr^s  agr£able  journ^e  aux  chutes  du 
Niagara. 

Il  n'y  a  eu  aucune  c6r6mqnie  au  cours  de 
la  journ£e.  I/es  envoy^s  f ranjais  ont  beau- 
coup  admire  la  grande  cataracte  et  out 
visite  le  dessous  des  chutes.  I<e  temps 
etait  parfait. 

I^e  train  special,  venant  de  Washington, 
avec  les  membres  de  la  mission,  e$t  arrive 
a  Buffalo  de  facon  a  permettre  aux  inv;t6s 
de  dejeuner  dans  leurs  wagons  et  a  con 
tinue  sur  les  chutes.  A  neuf  heurs  trente 
minutes,  les  membres  de  la  mission  des- 
cendaient  du  train  et  montaient  dans  des 


552 


Supplementary  Papers 


voitures.  Us  out  traverse  le  pont  qui  se 
trouve  en  amont  des  chutes  et  ont  repris 
le  train  de  trois  heures  quarante-cinq  mi 
nutes. 

Un  peu  avant  le  depart  du  train  pour 
West  Point,  un  groupe  de  jeunes  filles,  au 
milieu  des  applaudissements  des  person- 
nes  presents,  a  pr£sent£  &  la  comtesse  de 
Rochambeau  un  superbe  bouquet  de  fleurs. 
Ces  jeunes  filles  sont  des  Sieves  du  couvent 
des  soeurs  de  la  Mis£ricprde.  Le  bouquet 
etait  fait  de  splendides  ceillets  rouges  et 
de  roses,  connues  sous  le  nom  d'American 
Beauty,  lies  ensemble  par  un  fin  ruban  de 
soie  aux  couleurs  tricolores.  La  comtesse 
a  paru  tr£s  heureuse  de  cette  attention 
delicate. 

I^e  rev.  James  A.  I<anigan,  de  Buffalo,  et 
Mile.  Flore  Reche,  de  Rochester,  ont  ete 
presentes  au  comte  et  a  la  comtesse  de  Ro- 
chanibeau  et  leuront  rappeie  qu'ils  avaient 
eu  1'honneur  de  faire  visiter  les  Chutes  a 
la  marquise  de  Rochambeau,  a  repoque 
des  fgtes  de  Yorktown,  en  1881.  I,e  comte 
et  la  comtesse  de  Rochambeau  les  ont  tres 
bien  recus,  et  une  conversation  anim£e 
s'est  engagee  entre  eux  et  continuait  en 
core  lorsque  le  train  s'est  mis  en  marche. 

lye  comte  et  la  comtesse  de  Rochambeau 
sont  rested  sur  la  plate-forme  du  dernier 
wagon  aussi  longtemps  que  le  train  a  ete 
en  vue. 

LA  MISSION  A  WEST  POINT 

WEST  POINT,  27  mai.—L,^  general  Bru- 
gere,  le  comte  et  la  comtesse  de  Rocham 
beau  et  les  autres  membres  de  la  mission 
fraticaise  sont  arrives  par  une  pluie  bat- 
tante.  II  etait  environ  neuf  heures  lorsque 
le  colonel  Mills  et  son  etat-major  sont 
venus  leur  souhaiter  la  bienvenue  a  la 
gare.  Imm6diatement  apres  le  cortege 
s'est  forme  et  suivi  d'une  escorte  d'£l£ves 
cavaliers  de  1'e'cole  a  debouch e  sur  le 
champ  de  manoeuvres. 

Varrivee  de  la  mission  francaise  a  ete 
salute  de  dix-neuf  coups  de  canon,  et  im- 
mediatement  apr£s,  malgre  la  pluie  qui  ne 
cessait  de  tomber,  les  membres  de  la  mis 
sion  f rancaise,  ayant  a  leur  tgte  le  general 
Brugere,  gen^ralissime  de  l'arm£e  fran- 
9aise,  ont  passe  en  revue  les  eiSves  de 
1'Ecole  militaire  qui  ont  execute  devant 
eux  plusieurs  manoeuvres  important.es. 


Au  cours  de  la  revue,  la  'musique  de 
recole  a  joue  la  "Marseillaise."  L,e  colo 
nel  Mills  a  ensuite  fait  visiter  en  detail 
aux  membres  de  la  mission  toutes  les 
parties  de  recole.  I,e  g£ne>al  Brugere  a 
feiicite  chaudement  les  ei£ves  de  leur  belle 
tenue  et  a  termini  en  disant  qu'il  ne  dou- 
tait  pas  que  "  leurs  compatHotes  auraient 
lieu,  un  jour,  d'etre  fiers  de  leurs  services. '' 

Vers  onze  heures  la  mission  a  quitte 
recole  et  toujours  escortee  par  la  cavalerie 
s'est  rendue  au  quai  ou  le  Dolphin  1'atten- 
dait  pour  la  conduire  a  New- York. 


-  M.  Cambon,  ambassadeur  de  France,  le 
general  Brugere  et  les  membres  de  la  mis 
sion  f  ran5aise,  que  £taient  hier  aux  chutes 
du  Niagara,  arriveront  a  West  Point  ce 
matin,  vers  neuf  heures.  Apres  avoir 
visit£  1'Ecole,  ou  ils  seront  recus  avec  les 
honneurs  militaires,  ils  s'embarqueront 
sur  1'aviso  le  Dolphin,  qui  quittera  West 
Point  ce  matin,  a  onze  heures;  on  compte 
qu'il  d6barquera  les  membres  de  la  mis 
sion  a  la  Batterie,  vers  trois  heures  et 
demie. 

I_e  secretaire  du  maire,  M.  James  B.  Rey 
nolds,  recevra  les  envoy£s  fran9ais  au  de- 
barcadere  du  Barge  Office,  leur  souhaitera 
la  bienvenue  au  nom  du  maire  et  les  invi- 
tera  a  se  rendre  au  City  Hall.  I,e  cortege, 
form£  d'une  dizaine  de  voitures,  sera  es- 
cort6  par  le  bataillon  de  fusiliers  marins 
du  Gaulots,  avec  la  musique  des  equi 
pages  de  la  flotte,qui  comprendcinquante- 
quatre  executants,  et  par  les  compagnies 
de  d6barquement  de  1' Alabama,  du  Kear- 
sarge  et  de  VOlympta.  L,es  envoy6s  fran- 
gais  et  leur  escorte  remonteront  Broadway 
jusqu'au  City  Hall,  ou  aura  lieu  la  r6cep- 
tion  officielle. 

I,e  maire  de  New- York,  lorsqu  il  souhai 
tera  la  bienvenue  a  la  mission  fran§aise, 
sera  entourS  des  personnages  suivants:  I^e 
president  et  le  vice-president  du  conseil 
des  aldermen,  les  presidents  des  "  bo 
roughs"  de  Manhattan,  de  Brooklyn,  du 
Bronx,  de  Queens  et  de  Richmond;  1'am- 
bassadeur  et  les  anciens  ministres  des 
Etats-Unis  en  France,  demeurant  actuelle- 
ment  a  New- York,  le  general  Horace  Por 
ter,  MM.  Jonn  Bigelow,  Levi  P.  Morton, 
Whitelaw  Reid;  les  anciens  membres  du 


Supplementary  Papers 


553 


cabinet,  habitant  a  New- York,  MM.  Cor 
nelius  Bliss,  John  Carlisle,  Charles  Fair- 
child,  L,ymati  Gage,  Daniel  Lamont, 
Benjamin  Tracy,  William  Whitney;  le 
lieutenant-gouverneur;  les  anciens  gouver- 
neurs  et  1'ancien  lieutenant-gouverneur  de 
1'Etat  de  New- York,  demeurant  a  New- 
York,  MM.  Timothy  Woodruff,  Alonzo 
Cornell,  Frank  Black  et  William  Sheehan; 
les  anciens  maires  de  la  ville,  MM.  David 
Boody,  Edward  Cooper,  Alfred  Chapin, 
Smith  Ely,  Franklin  Edson,  Thomas  Gil- 
roy,  William  Grace,  Hugh  Grant,  Abram 
Hewitt,  Charles  Schieren,  Robert  Van 
Wyck,  David  Whitney  et  Frederick  Wurs- 
ter. 

C'est  M.  Jules  Cambon  qui  repondra  a 
M.  L,ow.  L,e  president  du  conseil  des  al 
dermen  invitera  ensuite  les  membres  de  la 
mission  a  se  rendre  dans  la  salle  des  sean 
ces,  ou  il  leur  sera  donn6  lecture  de  la 
resolution  votee  le  29  avril  dernier  et  aux 
termes  de  laquelle  1'hospitalite  municipale 
est  offerte  aux  envoyes  francais.  Pendant 
cette  cer6monie,  M.  Cambon  sera  assis  a 
la  droite  du  president  du  conseil  et  le  maire 
a  sa  gauche.  C'est  1'ambassadeur  de 
France  qui  remerciera  1£  conseil  au  nom 
de  la  mission. 

Cette  c£remonie  terminee,  le  cortege 
officiel  se  reformera.  I_es  envoyes  francais 
seront  accompagnes  du  maire,  du  comit£ 
new-yorkais,  des  membres  du  conseil  des 
aldermen  et  des  hauts  fonctionnaires  mu- 
nicipaux,  et  escortes  par  les  fusiliers  ma- 
rins  du  Gaulois  et  les  compagnies  de  de- 
barquement  de  1'escadre  am£ricaine.  I^es 
8,000  hommes  de  la  garde  nationale  de  New- 
York,  sous  les  ordres  du  general  Roe,  seront 
deploy es  sur  le  parcours  du  cortege,  depuis 
le  City  Hall  jusqu'a  Madison  square. 

Voici,  d'apres  une  communication  offi- 
cielle,  quel  sera  1'itineraire  du  cortege  : 
Broadway  jusqu'a  Wave'rley  place,  sous 
1'arc  de  triomphe  de  Washington,  et  la  5* 
avenue,  jusqu'a  Madison  square  et  la  28* 
rue. 

Une  grande  estrade  a  ete  £levee  pres  du 
monument  de  Worth,  a  1'intersection  de 
Broadway  et  de  la  5e  avenue ;  c'est  la  que 
1'ambassadeur  de  France,  le  geh£ral  Bru- 
gere  et  les  autres  envoyes  francais.  le 
maire  et  les  autorites  municipales,  etc., 
prendront  place  pour  assister  au  defiledes 
troupes.  A  Tissue  de  la  revue,  les  mem 


bres  de  la  mission  se  rendront  a  1'hdtel 
Waldorf,  ou  le  maire  de  New- York  leur 
rendra  leur  visite.  I<e  soir,  la  mission  as- 
sistera  a  un  banquet  qui  lui  sera  offert  par 
les  membres  de  la  Society  de  Cincinnati. 


B  [Mardi  27  mai  1902.] 
LA  MISSION  ROCHAMBEAU 

LE   ' '  GAULOIS  ' '  A   NEW-YORK 

L,e  cuirasse  francais  le  Gaulois,  com 
mandant  de  Surgy,  est  arrive  hier  matin  a 
New- York,  escort^  par  1'escadre  ameri- 
caine  de  1'amiral  Higginson,  composee  du 
croiseur  Olympia  etdes  cuirasses  A  la  bama 
et  Kearsarge.  L/es  quatre  batiments,  par 
tis  dimanche  matin  d' Annapolis,  etaient 
signales  au  large  des  Highlands  hier  vers 
neuf  heures  du  matin.  I^e  poste  des  si- 
gnaux  a  Sandy  Hook  arbora  les  pavilions 
correspondant,  d'apres  le  code  interna 
tional,  au  mot:  "Welcome"  (Bienvenue). 
L,e  Gaulois  repondit  par  le  mot :  "Thanks" 
(Remerciements);  il  avait  deja  embarque 
un  pilote,  et  il  s'engagea  dans  les  passes  a 
une  allure  assez  rapide,  suivi  par  les  trois 
navires  de  1'escorte.  A  onze  heures  trente- 
cinq  il  franchissait  les  Narrows.  Suivant 
la  coutume,  le  cuirasse  francais  a  pass6  de- 
vant  le  fort  Hamilton  et  le  fort  Wadsworth 
sans  saluer,  et  c'est  arrivant  devan  t  Govern 
ors  Island  qu'il  a  tire  une  salve.  £  laquelle 
la  batterie  du  Castle  William  a  repondu 
coup  pour  coup. 

I/approche  du  cuirasse  fran9ais  et  des 
trois  navires  de  1'escorte  avait  attire  £  la 
Batterie  une  foule  considerable,  qui  pous- 
sait  des  hourras.  En  m6me  temps,  les 
nombreux  bateaux  a  vapeur  sillonnant  la 
rade  donnaient  des  coups  de  sifflet  reten- 
tissants  sur  le  passage  du  Gaulois,  de 
1' Alabama,  du  Kearsarge  et  de  \'Olympia, 
qui  se  dirigeaient  &  petite  vitesse  vers  le 
mouillagedes  navires  de  guerre  &  la  340 
rue. 

L,a  coque  du  Gaulois  est  peinte  en  noir; 
des  superstructures  et  les  cheminees  ^en 
gris;  le  navire  a  toutes  les  apparences 
exterieures  de  ce  qu'il  est  en  realite,  une 
formidable  machine  de  guerre.  I<e  Gaulois, 
qui  fait  partie  de  1'escadre  de  la  Mediter- 
ranee,  est  un  des  plus  beaux  specimens 


554 


Supplementary  Papers 


de  1'art  naval  frangais.  Lance  en  189^  et 
termine  il  y  a  deux  ans  a  peine,  ce  cui- 
rasse  appartient  a  la  mgnie  classe  que  le 
Charlemagne  et  le  Saint-Louis.  C'est  uu 
navire  de  11,275  tonneaux,  a  trois  helices, 
dont  les  machines  peuvent  developper 
uneforcede  15,000  chevaux  et  lui  donner 
une  vitesse  maxima  de  18  noeuds.  II  est 
protege  par  une  cuirasse  de  40  centimetres 
en  acier  au  nickel.  L'armement  du 
Gautois  comprend  quatre'  pieces  de  30 
centimetres,  10  de  14  centimetres,  huit  de 
10  centimetres,  ettrente-sept  pieces  de  petit 
calibre.  Son  equipage  se  compose  de  630 
hommes. 


[Mercredi  28  mai  1902.] 
ROCHAMBEAU 

LA  RECEPTION  DE  LA  MISSION  FRAN- 
CAISE— UNE  BELLE  REVUE 

II  n'a  manque  a  la  journ^e  d'hier  qu'un 
peu  plus  de  soleil  et  un  peu  moins  de  pluie 
pour  que  la  manifestation  organised  en 
1'honneur  de  la  mission  Rochambeau  fut 
une  des  grandes  journe'es  new-yorkaises. 
La  population  a  evidemment  pris  un  vif 
intergt  a  la  reception  des  envoyes  fran 
gais;  elle  a  montre,  par  son  attitude  sym- 
pathique,  qu'elle  approuvait  le  grandiose 
accueil  qui  leur  etait  fait  par  les  autorites 
municipales.  I^'appel  du  maire  Low  invi- 
tant  les  habitants  a  d^corer  leurs  maisons 
avait  ete  entendu;  sur  le  parcours  du  cor 
tege  on  voyait  beaucoup  de  drapeaux 
frangais  et  americains. 

En  depit  du  mauvais  temps,  un  tr£s 
grand  nombre  de  personnes  s'etaient  por- 
tees,  les  unes  a  la  Batterie,  les  autres  dans 
Broadway  et  dans  la  5*  avenue  pour  assister 
au  passage  -du  cortege.  L'encombrement 
a  mgnie  amene,  nous  regrettons  de  devoir 
le  constater,  un  tres  grave  accident,  presque 
une  catastrophe,  dans  la  5*  avenue,  au  coin 
de  la  i8e  rue,  ou  une  plate-forme  en 
planches  s'est  £croulee  sous  le  poids  des 
curieux. 

D'apr£s  le  programme  arr^te,  les  mem- 
bres  de  la  mission^  f  ran  gaise  devaient  ar- 
river  a  la  Batterie  a  3  heures  et  demie  de 
1'apres-midi,  venant  de  1'Ecole  militaire  de 


West  Point,  ou  1'aviso  le  Dolphin  etait  alie 
les  chercher.  Par  suite  d'un  retard  sur- 
venu  a  West  Point,  le  Dolphin  n'a  pu  de- 
barquer  ses  passagers  qu'a  4  heures. 
Au  moment  ou  1'enibarcation  a  vapeur, 
qui  amenait  a  terre  les  membres  de  la  mis 
sion,  a  quitt£  le  Dolphin,  1'aviso  a  tire  une 
salve  d'artillerie. 

I,e  secretaire  du  maire,  M.  James  B.  Rej^- 
nolds,  a  recu  les  envoy£s  frangais  au  de- 
barcadere  du  Barge  Office,  et  apres  leur 
avoir  souhait£  la  bienvenue  au  nom  du 
maire,  les  a  invites  a  se  rendre  au  City 
Hall.  I,orsque  M.  Cambon,  ambassadeur 
de  France,  le  general  Brugere,  1'amiral 
Fournier  et  leurs  compagnons  de  voyage 
ont  paru  a  1'entr^e  du  Barge  Office  pour 
monter  en  voiture,  la  foule  a  pousse  des 
hourras. 

Une  petite  pluie  fine  succedait  aux 
grosses  ayerses  du  matin.  Toutes  les 
voitures  qui  attendaient  les  envoyes 
frangais  Itaient  fermees.  A  la  demande 
du  general  Brugere,  la  capote  de  la  pre" 
miere  de  ces  voitures  fut  rabattue,  et  c'est 
dans  cette  voiture  que  prirent  place  M. 
Cambon,  le  general  Brugere,  M.  Peirce, 
sous-secretaire  d'Etat,  et  M.  Reynolds,  se 
cretaire  du  maire  de  New- York. 

I/escorte  d'honneur  etait  formee  par  un 
detachement  de  hussards  de  1'escadron 
A,  qui  ouvrait  la  marche,  et  par  deux  d£- 
tachements  de  fusiliers  marins  frangais  et 
americains,  une  centaine  d'hommes  de- 
barques  du  Gaulois,  avec  la  musique  de  la 
flotte,  et  a  peu  pres  autant  provenant  des 
cuirasses  Alabama  et  Kearsarge.  L,e  cor-, 
tdge  s'est  dirige  par  Broadway  vers  le  City 
Hall,  ou  il  arrivait  a  4  heures  20,  salue  par 
les  acclamations  de  la  foule.  A  signaler  un 
petit  incident:  I,a  marche  des  tramways 
de  Broadway  avait  ete  arr£tee  a  I'ap- 
proche  du  cortege,  mais  sur  la  voie  mon- 
tante,  entre  la  rue  Ann  et  la  rue  Cortlandt, 
de  nombreux  "cars"  stationnaient;  queU 
ques  personnes  ont  pu,  sur  le  passage  de 
M.  Cambon,  lui  donner  une  poignee  de 
main.  ly'ambassadeur  de  France  s'est 
prgte  en  souriant  a  cette  manifestation 
amicale. 

La  reception  des  envoyes  frangais  au 
City  Hall  a  ete  aussi  franchement  cordiale 
qu'on  pouvait  le  souhaiter.  I,a  plupart  des 
citoyens  eminents,  les  anciens  gouver- 
neurs,  les  anciens  maires,  les.  anciens  am- 


Supplementary  Papers 


555 


bassadeurs,  invites  afaire  partie  ducomite 
de  reception,  avaient  r£pondu  al'appel  de 
M.  L,ow,  ce  qui  accentuait  la  signification 
de  cette  demonstration  d'amitie  franco- 
americaine. 

Aux  paroles  de  bienvenue  du  maire,  M. 
Cambon  a  r£pondu  avec  sa  bonne  grace 
habituelle.  Ive  president  du  conseil  des 
aldermen  a  invite  ensuite  les  membres  de 
la  mission  a.  se  rendre  dans  la  salle  des  > 
seances  oii  M.  I,ow  a  prononce  le  discours 
suivant: 

"Monsieur  1'ambassadeur  et  messieurs 
de  la  mission  Rochambeau,  qui  repr£sentez 
si  dignement  la  R£publique  frati9aise,  le 
maire  ,de  la  ville  de  New- York  remplit 
1'exercice  de  ses  fonctions  devant  le  por 
trait  de  I^afayette  qui  pour  .nous  Ame>i- 
cains  est  1'image  de  1'ardeur  g£n£reuse  du 
peuple  fran9ais  pour  la  liberty.  Iyes  re- 
presentants  de  la  ville  de  New- York  sont 
heureux  en  ce  jour  d'avoir  1'occasiou  de 
pouvoir  feiiciter  les  membres  distingue's 
de  cette  delegation  et  de  reconnaitre  les 
services  rendus  a  notre  ville  par  la  nation 
f  ranjaise  qui-est  venue  a  1'aide  des  colonies 
d'Amerique  avec  ses  armies  de  terre  et  de 
mer.  L,a  bataille  decisive  de  la  lutte  pour 
1'independance  a  ete  engag^e  et  gagn£e 
par  les  troupes  fran£aises  et  am6ricaines  a 
Yorktown  (Virgihie),  mais  elle  a  amene 
dans  notre  ville  la  scene  historique  de 
Fraunce  Tavern,  Washington  faisant  ses 
adieux  aux  officiers  qui  avaient  ete  ses  ca- 
marades  au  cours  de  la  guerre  de  la  R6vo- 
lution. 

"Cet  heureux  r£sultat  a  ete  du  directe- 
ment  a  1'aide  que  nous  a  donn^e  la  France. 
l,es  services  rendus  par  I^afayette,  Rocham 
beau  et  de  Grasse,  qui  commandaient  les 
armies  francaises  de  terre  et  de  mer,  n'ont 
pas  encore  et6  aussi  grands  que  ceux  de  la 
nation  g6n£reuse  que  vous  repr£sentez. 
Vous  avez  bien  souvent,  au  cours  de  cette 
lutte,  procure  a  nos  troupes  ce  que  1'on 
appelle  le  nerf  de  la  guerre,  et  1'aide  ainsi 
apportee  a  fait  que  le  nom  que  Ton  donne 
aux  Fransais,  "  le  bonhomme  Richard," 
est  devenu  a  nos  oreilles  aussi  familier  que 
celui  de  Yorktown. 

"  Tous  ces  £v6nements,  nous,  citoyens  de 
New- York,  nous  nous  les  rappelons  avec 
satisfaction  et  nous  n'oublions  pas  que  la 
France  a  compris  leur  importance  en  nous 
donnant  cette  "Statue  de  la  liberte  illumi- 


nant  le  monde"  qui  est  plac£e  a  1'entr^e 
de  notre  port.  Elle  est  I'embleme  eternel 
de  la  liberte  qui  montre  aux  nations  le 
chemin  de  la  civilisation  qui,  comme  le 
soleil,  se  dirige  vers  1'ouest. 

"  Nous,  Americains,  devons  tout  autant  a 
la  France  dans  le  domaine  de  la  liberty 
politique  que  dans  celui  de  1'art,  car  de  ce 
c6t£elle  nous  donne  egalement  le  plus  bel 
exemple.  I«a  science  est  aujourd'hui  en- 
seignee  librement  dans  tousles  pays,  mais 
le  monde  entier  va  malgr£  tout  a  1'Ecole 
fran9aise  des  beaux-arts  parce  que  sous  le 
beau  cielde  la  liberty  en  tout  cequi  touche 
a  1'art,  c'est  encore  la  France  qui  dirige  les 
autres  nations.  Pour  toutes  ces  raisons  et 
bien  d'autres,  j'ai  1'honneur  de  vous  sou- 
haiter  la  bienvenue  au  nom  de  la  ville  de 
New- York,  notre  cit£  bienaime'e." 

A  la  suite  du  discours  de  M.  l,ow,  le  gref- 
fier  du  conseil  des  aldermen  a  donn£  lec 
ture  de  la  resolution  vot6e  le  29  avril  pour 
offrir  aux  envoy6s  fran^ais  I'hospitalit6 
municipale,  etdont  voici  un  extrait:  . 

"Attendu  que  le  reprfeentant  du  Pr6si- 
dent  de  la  R^publique  f ran?aise,  le  g6neYa- 
lissime  de  I'arm6e  f ran^aise,  un  vice-amiral 
de  la  marine  fran9ais£,  ainsi  que  les  mem 
bres  des  illustres  families  dont  on  a  parle, 
se  trouveront  dans  notre  ville  d'ici  aquel- 
ques  semaines;  et 

"Attendu  que  cette  mission,  toujours  sou- 
cieuse  de  ses  traditions  patriotiques,  rap- 
pelle  agreablement  le  souvenir  des  ser 
vices  incalculables  rendus  par  le  peuple 
francais,  son  armeeet  sa  marine  h^roiques, 
dans  notre  lutte  pour  la  liberty  et  rappelle 
egalement  retablissement  des  principes 
du  regime  r^publicain  dans  les  deux  he 
mispheres,  en  consequence 

"Avons  resolu,  que  nous,  le  corps  consti- 
tue  des  aldermen,  etant  a  cette  occasion 
1'interprete  des  sentiments  des  citoyens  de 
New- York,  de  faire  1'accueil  le  plus  cordial 
aux  representants  du  gouvernement  fran- 
5ais  et  a  ceux  qui  les  accompagnent  lors- 
qu'ils  arriveront  sur  nos  c6tes,  et  avons 
respectueusement  prie  le  maire  de  nom- 
mer  un  comite  qui  sera  completement  au 
service  de  nos  distingues  visiteurs  pen 
dant  le  sejour  qu'ils  feront  parmi  nous." 

I/ambassadeur  de  France,  aerepondu, 
au  nom  des  envoyes,  et,  tout  en  remerciant 
le  conseil  des  aldermen,  a  loue  1'esprit  ci- 
vique  des  New-Yorkais.  .  • 


556 


Supplementary  Papers 


La  c£r£monie  termin^e,  le  cortege  offi 
cial  s'est  reform^.  Les  envoyes  fran9ais, 
accompagn£s  du  maire,  du  comit£  new- 
yorkais,  des  meinbres  du  couseil  des  alder 
men  et  des  hauts  fonctionnaires  munici- 
paux,  sont  months  en  voiture,  et  la  marche 
vers  Madison  square  a  commence. 

II  etait  alors  pr£s  de  cinq  heures  du  soir. 
Depuis  longtemps  deja  les  regiments  de  la 
garde  nationale  6taient  £chelonnes  dans 
Broadway,  de  Warren  street  a  Waverly 
place,  sous  les  ordres  du  general  Roe.  Une 
foule  compacte  se  pressait  sur  les  trottoirs, 
et  la  circulation  des  tramways  et  de"s  voi- 
tures  etait  suspendue. 

En  tete  du  cortege  marchaientle  general 
Roe  et  son  £tat-major,  la  musique  fran- 
?aise  des  Equipages  de  laflotte,  les  fusiliers 
marins  debarques  du  Gaulois,  les  marins 
des  Etats-Unis,  les  invites  fraii9ais,  les  au- 
torites  de  la  ville  et  le  conseil  aes  alderr 
men.  Le  nombre  des  voitures  etait  de 
quarante.  Sur  le  passage  des  envoyes 
francais,  chaque  regiment  pr6sentait  les 
armes  et  sa  musique  jouait  quelques  me- 
sures  de  la  "Marseillaise,"  jusqu'a  ce  que 
les  voitures  fussent  pass£es.  Le  regiment 
se  joignait  ensuite  a  la  colonne. 

Le  cortgege  a  suivi  Broadway  jusqu'& 
Waverly  place,  a  pass£  sous  1'arc  de  tri- 
omphe  de  Washington  et  a  remonte'  la  5* 
avenue  jusqu'a  Madison  square.  Sur  tout 
ce  parcours,  des  hourras  et  des  acclama 
tions  ontaccueilli  les  representants  de  la 
France,  qui  paraissaient  enchaiit£s  de 
1'accueil  des  New-Yorkais. 

Six  heures  venaient  de  sonner,  lorsque 
la  t£te  de  colonne  est  arrivee  a  Madison 
square,  ou  une  estrade  etait  61ev£e  pres  du 
monument  de  Worth,  £  1'intersection  de 
Broadway  et  de  la  5e  avenue.  L'ambas- 
sadeur  de  France,  le  general  Brugere,  les 
autres  envoy£s  fran9ais,  le  maire  et  les 
autorites  municipales  ont  pris  place  sur 
cette  estrade  pour  assister  au  d6fil£  des 
troupes  qui  a  dur6  jusqu'a  sept  heures  et 
quart. 

La  foule  compacte  r£unie  aux  abords  de 
Madison  square  a  fait  un  chaleureux 
accueil  aux  envoyes  f  ran£ais.  Les  f  enetres 
des  grands  h6tels  voisins  £taient  garnies 
de  curieux.  Au  cafe  Martin,  trfes  bien 
decore  de  drapeaux  f  rangais  et  am£ricains, 
le  balcon  donnant  sur  la  5«  avenue  avait 
6te  r6serv6  par  M.  J.  B.  Martin  aux  mem- 


bres  de  la  Soci£t6  des  v£t£rans  des  armies 
de  terre  et  de  mer. 

A  Tissue  du  defile",  les  membres  de  la 

mission  f  rancaise  sont  remontes  en  voiture 

et  ont  et6  conduits  au  Waldorf-Astoria,  ou 

ils  ont  re9u  la  visite  du  maire  Low  et  aussi 

[  celle  des  representants  des  soci£tes  fran- 

j  Daises. 

La  journ£e  s'est  termin^e  par  le  diner 
I  offert  aux  envoyes  fran9ais  par  les  mem 
bres  de  la  Societ6  de  Cincinnati,  qui  est, 
comme  on  sait,  un  ordre  militaire  histo- 
rique  fond6  en  1783  par  les  officiers  de 
1  'armee  am^ricaine.  Le  general  Washing 
ton  a  £t€  son  premier  President,  ROCHAM- 
BEAU,  Lafayette,  d'Estaing,  de  Grasse  et 
nombre  d'autres  officiers  de  haut  rang  en 
ont  fait  partie.  On  le  connaissait  en 
France  sous  le  nom  de  1'Ordre  de  Cincin- 
natus,  et  le  comte  de  Rochambeau  a  et£ 
vice-president  de  la  branche  francaise  de 
cet  ordre.  Les  ancgtres  d'un  grand  nom 
bre  de  ceux  qui,  par  droit  h£r£ditaire,  font 
aujou  rd'hui  partie  de  la  Societ£de  Cincin 
nati,  ont  £t6  les  compagnons  d'armes  de 
ROCHAMBEAU  et  de  Lafayett%. 

Les  invites  comprenaient  les  membres 
de  la  mission  fran9aise,  le  personnel  de 
1'ambassade,  M.  Peirce,  sous-secretaire 
d'Etat,  les  principaux  officiers  des  navires 
de  guerre  americains  qui  ont  accompagn£ 
le  Gaulots  &  New- York,  le  general  Horace 
Porter,  ambassadeur  des  Etats-Unis  en 
France,  plusieurs  officiers  de  haut  rangde 
rarm^e,  de  la  marine  des  Etats-Unis  et  de 
1'Ecole  militaire  de  West  Point,  etc.,  etc. 
Cent  vingtcinq  personnes  ont  assist^  a  ce 
diner  qui  a  £t6  des  plus  animus. 

Le  g£n£ral  Varnum,  M.  Cambon,  et  plu 
sieurs  autres  invite's  ont  prononce  des  dis- 
cours  qui  ont  £t6  chaleureusement  ap- 
plaudis. 

Dans  la  soiree,  le  Gaulois  ^tait  brillam- 
ment  illuming  S.  la  lumiere  ^lectrique,  ce 
qui  avait  attir6  beaucoup  de  curieux  aux 
abords  du  quai  de  34*  rue.  On  a  admire  le 
bon  gout  des  61ectriciens  du  Gaulois. 

Aujourd'hui,  mercredi,  la  mission  fran- 
9aise  assistera  au  Claremont  Hotel,  River 
side  Drive,  &  un  dejeuner  qui  lui  est  offert 
par  M.  LOW.  EHe  visitera  auparavant 
runiversit£  Columbia  (ou  elle  est  attendue 
a  10  heures  et  demie)  et  la  tombe  du  g£n6- 
ral  Grant.  Ce  soir,  la  charnbre  de  com 
merce  fraii9aise  donnera  chez  Sherry  un 
diner  en  1'honneur  des  envoj'es  fraii9ais. 


Supplementary  Papers 


557 


LE  DtNER  DE  LA  CHAMBRE  DE  COM 
MERCE  FRANCAISE 

L,a  chambre  de  commerce  francaise  de 
New- York  a  donne  hier  soir  chez  Sherry  \ 
un  banquet  en  1'honneur  de  M.  Jules  Cam-  j 
bon,  ambassadeur  de  France,  et  des  mem-  ! 
bres  de  la  mission  Rochambeau.     M.  Cam- 
boii,  qui  est  infatigable,  semble-t-il,  etait  j 
revenue  de  Washington  pour  assister  a  ce 
banquet.     La  salle  etait  decoree  de  dra- 
peaux  francais  et  am^ricanis,  de  plantes 
vertes  et  de  fleurs.     M.  Henry  E.  Gourd  et 
les  membres  du  bureau  de  la  chambre  de 
commerce  ont  recu  les  invites  avec  une  j 
affabilit€  toute  francaise. 

L,es  convives  6taient  au  nombre  de  107. 
A  la  table  d'honneur,  de  forme  ovale,  • 
avaient  pris  place  M.  Cambon, ambassadeur 
de  France,  ayant  a  sa  droite  M.  L,ow,  maire 
de  New- York,  et  &  sa  gauche  le  general 
Horace  Porter,  ambassadeur  des  Etats-Unis 
a  Paris;  en  face  deM.  Cambon,  M.  Henry  E. 
Gourd,  president  de  la  chambre  de  com 
merce  francaise,  avait  a  sa  droite  le  g€ne- 
ral  Brugere  et  a  sa  gauche  le  vice-amiral 
Fournier. 

Voici  d'ailleurs  la  liste  officielle  des  invi 
tes  de  la  chambre  de  commerce  fran?aise: 
I/ambassadeur  de  France  et  Mme.  Cam 
bon,  le  general  Brugere,  le  vice-amiral  Er 
nest  Fournier,  M.  Alfred  Croiset,  doyen  de 
la  faculte  des  lettres  de  Paris,  le  general 
de  brigade  Ferdinand  de  Chalendar,  le 
capitaine  de  Surgy,  commandant  le  Gau- 
!ois,  le  lieutenant-colonel  Paul  Meaux- 
Saint-Marc,  le  comte  de  Rochambeau,  la 
comtesse  de  Rochambeau,  le  comte  Paul 
de  Sahune  de  I^afayette,  M.  I<agrave,  M.  et 
Mme.  de  Margerie,  M.  Edmotid  Bruwaert, 
consul  general  de  France  M.  Velten,  con 
sul  suppliant.  M.  I^ouis  Hermite,  le  vi- 
comte  de  Chambrun,  M.  Victor  Aygues- 
parsse,  M.  Jean  Guillemin,  le  lieutenant- 
colonel  Marcel  Hermite,  M.  Renouard,  M. 
Robert  de  Billy,  le  commandant  Henri 
Berthelot,  le  capitaine  Vignal  et  Mme.  Vi- 
gnal,  le  lieutenantde  vaisseau  de  Faramond 
de  Lafajolle,  M.  Jules  Boeufv6  le  lieute 
nant  de  vaisseau  Andre  Sauvaire-Jourdan, 
le  lieutenant  Gustave  I^ejay,  le  lieutenant 
baron  Maximilien  de  Reinach  de  Werth, 
le  capitaine  Poilloiie  de  Saint- Mars,  le  ca 
pitaine  Etienne  Fillonneau,  le  capitaine 
Henri  I,asson,  M.  Herbert  H.  D.  Peirce, 


sous-secretaire  d'Etat,  et  Mme.  Peirce,  le 
colonel  Theodore  A.  Bingham,  le  com 
mandant  Raymond  P.  Rodgers.  M.  Edwin 
Morgan,  M.  Seth  lyow,  le  general  Horace 
Porter,  M.  L,evi  P.  Morton,  ancien  vice- 
president  des  Etats  -  Unis,  le  general 
Brooke,  commandant  le  departement  de 
1'Atlantique,  les  contre-amiraux  Barker  et 
Higginson,  M.  Whitelaw  Reid,  ancien  mi- 
nistre  des  Etats-Unis  en  France,  M.  Morris 
K.  Jesup,  president  de  la  chambre  de  com 
merce  de  New- York,  le  rev.  pere  Wucher, 
le  general  James  Varnum,  le  capitaine 
I,yon,  de  VOlympia,  le  capitaine  Bronson, 
de  V Alabama,  le  capitaine  Hemphill,  du 
Kearsarge,  le  lieutenant  de  vaisseau 
Cleaves,  du  Dolphin,  le  capitaine  Poirot, 
de  la  Savoie,  Tournier,  de  la  Gascogne,  M. 
Grout,  contr&leur  de  la  ville  de  New- York, 
M.  Jacob  A.  Cantor,  president  du  borough 
de  Manhattan,  M.  Fornes,  president  du 
conseil  des  aldermen,  M.  Dietlin,  vice-pre- 
sident  de  la  Societ£  fran9aise  de  bienfai- 
sance,  M.  James  Reynolds,  secretaire  du 
maire  de  New- York,  le  professeur  Adolphe 
Cohn,  M.  Jpvaud,  M.  Revillon. 

Nous  donnons  ici  le  menu  du  diner: 

Uttle  Neck  Clams 
Consomme  Rochambeau 

Canapes  Washington 
Olives  Radis  Amandes     • 

Truite  Meuni£re  Pommes  Persillade 

Selle  d'agneau  a  la  Moderne 

Petits  pois  a  la  Frangaise 
Ris  de  veau  bigarres  a  la  Toulousaine 

Asperges  Hollandaise 
Poussin  r6ti         Salade  de  saison 

Glace  L,afayette 
Gateaux         Fromage         Caf£ 

Vins 

Chateau  Carbonnieux  Chateau  Palmer  1890 

Romance  1881  Delbeck  Brut 

Eau  minerale:  Vichy  C£lestins 

Le  menu  etait  orne  d'une  jolie  reproduc 
tion  en  photogravure  du  portrait  en  pied  du 
marechal  de  ROCHAMBEAU  par  Regnault. 

Pendant  le  diner,  un  orchestre  a  joue  des 
airs  fran?ais  et  americains. 

Au  dessert,  plusieurs  discours  ont  £t6 
proiionc£s. 

M.  Henry  E.  Gourd,  president  de  la 
Chambre  de  commerce,  s'est  exprim£  en 
ces  termes: 


558 


Supplementary  Ptipers 


"  Monsieur  1'Ambassadeuer:  Si  j'en  crois 
I'aphorisme  de  Brillat-Savarin:  Convier 
quelqu'un  c'est  se  charger  de  son  bonheur 
pendant  tout  le  temps  qu'il  est  sous  notre 
toit,  rnon  devoir  de  niaitre  de  maison  est 
de  ne  vous  causer  aucun  d£plaisir,  ne  fut- 
ce  rngme  qu'en  offusquant  votre  modestie. 
Je  tairai  done  les  sentiments  d'estime,  de 
respect,  d'affection  que  vous  avez  su  nous 
inspirer  et,  me  bornant  a  vous  remercier 
d'avoir  bien  youlu  assister  a  cette  fe~te,  je 
saluerai  en  vous — duss£-je  r£p€ter  ce  que 
je  vous  disais,  il.y  a  quelques  semaines — 
celui  de  tous  les  repr£sentants  de  notre 
Gouvernement  qui  a  le  plus  contribu£,  pen 
dant  ces  vingt  dernieres  annexes,  a  ma  con- 
naissance  du  moins,  tant  par  ses  actes  que 
par  ses  discours,  a  assurer  a  la  France  de 
precieuses  sympathies  dans  ce  pays. 

"Mon  general,  Messieurs  les  deiegues, 
Messieurs:  Ce  m'est  une  rare  bonne 
fortune  que  d'etre  appeie  par  mes  fonc- 
tions  a  vous  souhaiter  la  bienvenue  parmi 
nous  et  je  tiens  a  tr£s  haut  prix  1'honneur 
qui  m'echoit  de  porter  la  parole,  au  nom  de 
la  Chambre  de  commerce  fran£aise  de 
New- York,  devant  une  assemble  aussi 
imposante. 

"I,e  but  poursuivi  par  notre  compagnie, 
comme  son  nom  1'indique,  au  surplus,  est 
de  faciliter  les  relations  d'affaires  entre  les 
Etats-Unis  et  la  France,  mais  sa  mission, 
telle  que  nous  la  comprenons,  n'est  pas 
limiteeal'etude,  a  la  solution  desquestions 
purement  commerciales  ou  economiques; 
sa  sphere 'd'action  est  plus  etendue,  elle 
embrasse  tout  se  qui  peut  contribuer  ares- 
serrer  les  liens  d'une  amitie  dej&  plus  que 
seculaire  entre  nos  deux  pays,  a  accroitre 
influence,  notre  prestige  dans  celui-ci  et, 
par  suite,  cette  f€te  ne  sort  pas  du  cadre  de 
ses  attributions. 

"  C'est  a  ce  titre  egalement,  messieurs, 
que  nous  avons  applaudi  a  1'aimable  initia 
tive  de  M.  le  President  Roosevelt  et  que 
nous  nous  sommes  re"jouis  de  voir  M.  le 
President  Loubet  r£pondre  a  son  invitation 
avec  une  munificence  qui  a  du  faire  tres- 
saillir  le  cosur  des  descendants  de  I,afa- 
yette  et  de  ROCHAMBEAU  en  leur  prouvant 
que  le  souvenir  de  ces  preux  que  furent 
leurs  anc£tres  est  demeure  vivant  dans 
1'ame  de  deux  grandes  nations,  I,e  Pr£si- 
dent  de  la  R£publique  a  etc,  d'ailleurs,par- 
ticulierement  bien  inspire  dans  le  choix 


des  'deiegues  charges  de  le  repr£senter  en 
ces  circonstances  m£morables  et  c'est  tin 
honneur  pour  les  Etats-Unis  comme  pour 
nous  que  de  recevoir  M.  le  general  Bru- 
g£re,  commandant  en  chef  de  notre  arm£e, 
dont  1'^nergie  et  la  haute  competence  mili- 
taire  nous  sont  de  surs  garants  du  main- 
tien  de  la  paix,  grace  a  la  preparation  in- 
cessante,  eclair^e  de  la  guerre. 

"  M.  1'amiral  Fournier,  des  longtemps 
connu  de  tous  comme  marin,  comme  diplo-* 
mate  et  d^sign^  par  1'opinion  publique, 
sinon  d£ja  m6me  par  le  Gouvernement, 
pour  e~tre  le  successeur  ^ventuel  de  cet 
irresistible  entraineur  d'hommes  qu'est 
1'amiral  Gervais. 

"M.  Alfred  Croiset,  1'eminent  membre 
de  1'Institut  et  le  doyen  de  cette  v^ne^ee 
Sorbonne  qui  n'a  pas  souffert  des  injures 
du  temps  et  qui,  toujours  jeune  quoique 
vieille  de  pr^s  de  huit  siecles,  poursuit  sa 
mission  bienfaisante  pour  la  plus  grande 
gloire  des  lettres  et  des  sciences  fran- 
caises,  ainsi  que  pour  le  plus  grand  profit 
de  1'esprit  humain. 

"Des  repr£sentants  fort  distingu^s  des 
minist^res  des  affaires  etrang£res,  du  com 
merce,  des  beaux-arts  et  ce  sculpteur  d'in- 
finiment  de  talent  qui  a  su  donner  a  ses 
oeuvres  ce  que  la  nature  luj  a  refuse  a  lui- 
mgme,  car  elles  nous  parlent. 

"Enfin  un  brillant  etat-major  d'officiers 
de  toutes  armes  qui  n'ont  pu  se  meprendre 
sur  la  sincerite  de  1'accueil  qu'ils  ont  ren 
contre,  ce  soir,  parmi  nous. 

"Plus  on  vit  loin  de  sa  patrie,  messieurs, 
plus  on  s'attache  aux  elements  qui  con 
stituent,  aux  yeux  de  retranger,  son  influ 
ence,  sa  force,  sa  securite  et  une  partie  de 
sa  gloire;  d'oft  notre  predilection  toute  spe- 
ciale  pour  notre  armee,  pour  notre  marine. 
Nous  les  considerons,  en  effet,  non  seule- 
inent  comme  de  grandes  ecoles  ou  s'en- 
seigne  et  se  pratique  la  religiondu  devoir,  de 
1'abnegation,  du  patriotisme,  mais  encore 
comme  ies  remparts  vivants  qui  assurent 
1'integrite  de  notre  territoire  et  les  gar-  • 
diennes  de  ce  sentiment  si  deiicat,  si  noble, 
si  pur  qu'Alfred  de  Vigny  appelait,  chez 
1'homme,  'la  pudeur  virile,'  et  qui,  chez 
les  peuples,  prend  le  nom  d'honneur  na 
tional.  Ah!  si,  quelque  jour,  ce  qu'a  Dieu 
ne  plaise!  ce  sentiment  tendait  a  dispa- 
raitre  du  monde,  nous  sommes  persuades 
qu'il  trouverait  un  dernier  asile  dans  le 


Supplementary  Papers 


559 


cceur  de  nos  soldats  et  de  nos  marins  qui 
lui  seryirait  de  Palladium  inviolable!  Voila 
pourquoi  nous  aimons  notre  arm£e  et  notre 
marine,  pourquoi  nous  partageons  leurs 
joies  et  leurs  tristesses,  applaudissant  a 
leurs  triomphes,  ressentant  les  attaques 
iiijustes  dirig£es  centre  elles  comme  des 
insultes  au  drapeau  m£me  qui  leur  est 
confi^,  drapeau  qu'il  ne  nous  est  donn£  que 
trop  rarement  de  saluer  sur  ces  rivages. 

"  Aussi  bien  n'avons-nous  pu  nous  d£- 
fendre,  ces  jours-ci,  d'un  frisson  d'orgueil 
patriotique  en  voyant  deploy^  au-dessus 
de  cette  redoutable  fprteresse  flottante 
qu'est  le  Gaulois,  notre  pavilion  aux  trois 
couleurs  qui  representent:  suivant  1'inter- 
pretation  symbolique  qu'on  en  a  donnee, 
1'azur  des  espaces  infinis,  par  dela  lesquels  i 
tr6ne  le  Tout-Puissant  qui  tient  en  ses 
mains  les  destinies  des  nations  et  qui  veil- 
lera  toujours,  nous.l'esp£rons,  sur  celles 
de  la  France;  le  lait  dont  les  meres  fran- 
caises  nourrissent  leurs  fils  pour  en  faire 
des  hommes  forts,  de  bons  citoyens,  de 
braves  soldats;  le  sang  vers6  par  nos  an- 
cetres  et  par  nos  contemporains  sur  pres- 
que  tous  les  champs  de  bataille  du  monde 
pour  la  gloire  de.  notre  patrie  et,  je  puis 
le  declarer  ici,  pour  la  cause  sacr£e  de 
1'emaiicipation  des  peuples. 

"Cette  remarque  m'amene,  messieurs, 
par  uneassociationd'id€estoute  naturelle, 
a  remercier  les  descendants  de  ces  vail- 
lants  Americains  qui,  au  XVIII*  siecle, 
b£n£ficierentde  notre  intervention,  d'avoir 
bien  voulu  rehausser  par  Leur  presence 
1'eclat  de  cette  f£te.  Oui,  c'est  avec  un 
sentiment  de  vive  gratitude  que  nous  ac- 
clamons,  ce  soir,  le  premier  citoyen  de 
cette  grande  ville,  M.  Seth  I,ow,  maire  de 
Ne\y-York,  deux  fois  investi  par  le  suf 
frage  universel  des  hautes  fonctions 
qu'il  remplit  si  dignement;  M.  le  general 
Horace  Porter  qui,  unissant  les  qualit£s 
du  diplomate  a  celles  du  soldat,  a  su,  par 
son  exquise  urbanit£,  prendre  d'assaut  le 
coaur  des  Parisiens;  M.  le;  president  Mor-  I 
ton  qui  a  Iaiss6  egalement  les  meilleurs 
souvenirs  sur  les  bords  de  la  Seine;  mes 
sieurs  les  g£neraux,  amiraux,  officiers  et 
toute  une  pl£iade  de  notabilit£s  de  cette  ) 
florissante  m£tropole  nous  apportant  au- 
jourd'hui  un  t£moignage  pr^cieux  de  leur 
sympathie,  temoignage  qui  vient  s'ajouter 
a  de  recentes  preuves  d'amiti£,  dont  nous 


avons  £t£  profondement  touches.'  Nous 
ne  saurionsoublier,  en  effet,  qu'au  moment 
ou,  par  suite  de  1'^loignement  de  la  me're- 
patrie,  les  tristes  survivants  de  la  catas 
trophe  de  la  Martinique  £taient  a  bout  de 
ressources  imm^diates,  ils  ont  vu  se  lendre 
vers  eux,  dans  un  sublime  £lan  de  gene- 
rosit6,  la  main  secourable  des  Etats-Unis, 
cette  Providence  des  afflig6s.  Ils  savent 
maintenant,  ces  infortunes,  qu'un  homme 
s'est  rencontr£,  d'un  courage  6prouve  sur 
le  champ  de  bataille  comme  dans  la  vie 
civile,  d'un  cceur  sensible,  61ev6  par  la 
confiance  et  1'estime  de  ses  concitoyens  a 
la  magistrature  supreme  de  son  pays,  que 
le  President  Roosevelt,  en  un  mot,  a  ho- 
nor€,  au  nom  de  ce  grand  peuple,  la  traite 
de  reconnaissance  tir£e,  il  y  a  cent  vingt 
ans,  sur  ses  ai'eux  par  les  contemporains 
de  lyafayette  et  de  ROCHAMBEAU! 

"  Vous  ^tes  des  hommes  d'action,  mes 
sieurs,  et  vous  n'aimez  pas,  sans  doute,  les 
longs  discours.  Peut-£tre  m€me  ai-je  d£ja 
abus£  de  votre  bienveillante  attention.  Je 
termine  d'un  mot. 

"Je  vous  prie  ,  d'associer  en  un  meTne 
toast  les  deux  puissantes  nations,  si  bril- 
lamment  repr^sentees  ici  ce  soir,  les 
membres  de  la  mission  francaise  et  les 
h6tes  de  distinction  qui  ont  r£pondu  a 
notre  appel  avec  un  empressement  dont  je 
les  remercie  de  tout  coeur. 

"  Je  bois  a  la  France,  aux  Etats-Unis,  a 
nos  h6tes  et  amis ! " 

I^e  discours  de  M.  Gourd  a  6te  tres  ap- 
plaudi^  notamnient  le  passage  relatif  au 
President  Roqsevelt. 

M.  Cambon,  ambassadeur  de  France,  a 
rdpoudu.  II  a. fait  ressortir  rimportance 
des  re'centes  demonstrations  d'amiti^ 
franco-am^ricaine.  Cette  amiti£  n'atten- 
dait  qu'une  occasion  de  s'affirmer;  elle  Ta 
trouv£e  le  jour  de  1'inauguration  du  monu 
ment  ROCHAMBEAU,  et  elle  i"a  saisie  avec 
un,  empressement  dont  tous  les  Fran5ais 
ont  £te  touches.  M.  Cambon  a  par!6  aussi 
des  attentions  qu'a  eues  le  gouvernement 
americain  pour  les  envoyes  de  la  France. 
II  a  remercie  la  commission  atneYicaine  et 
en  particulier  M.  Peirce,  le  colonel  Bing- 
ham  et  le  commandant  Rodgers  ,de  toutes 
leurs  gracieusetes,  non  seulement  envers 
la  mission,  mais  aussi  envers  la  F.rance. 
En  r£sume\  tout  ce  qui  s'est  passed  depuis 
huit  jours  doit  tendre-  a  pecsuader  aux 


56° 


Supplementary  Papers 


Fran?ais  que  les  Etats-Unis  sont  plus  pour 
la  France  que  tout  autre  pays.  I,a  sensi- 
bilite'  francaise  trouve  ais£ment  un  £cho 
dans  les  creurs  am6ricains,  et  cela  s'ex- 
plique  d'autant  plus  ais6ment  qu'il  y  a, 
dans  les  veinesde  la  population  am£ricaine, 
plus  de  sang  francais  qu'on  ne  pense,  les 
colons  fran$ais  de  la  L,ouisiane  etdes  Etats 
de  1'Ouest  ayant  eu  leur  large  part  dans  le 
peuplement  de  ce  grand  pays. 

Apr£s  avoir  remerci£  M.  l,ow,  maire  de 
New- York,  de  I'hospitalit6  et  de  la  bien- 
venue  spontan£e  accordee  aux  envoy£s 
franfais,  M.  Cambon  a  termini  en  portant 
un  toast  au  President  Roosevelt  et  au  Prfei- 
dent  I,oubet. 

M.  L,ow  a  r£pondu  a  ce  toast.  II  a  parl£ 
de  1'estime  que  les  Ame"ricainsont  pour  M. 
Cambon  qui  a  su  faire  ici  tant  d'amis  pour 
la  France.  I^e  maire  de  New- York  a  dit 
ensuite  combien  ses  compatriotes  appr£- 
ciaient  1'honneur  que  leur  avait  fait  le 
President  Loubet  en  envoy  ant  ici  les  chefs 
de  l'arm£e  et  de  la  marine  francaise,  ainsi 
que  les  repr£sentants  du  commerce  et  de 
1'industrie;  il  ne  doute  pas  que  cette  mis 
sion  ne  tende  a  resserrer  les  liens  qui 
existent  entre  les  deux  pays  depuis  la 
revolution  am6ricaine. 

Le  g£n£ral  Porter  a  dit  ensuite  quelques 
mots  flatteurs  pour  les  membres  de  la  mis 
sion,  pour  la  France  et  pour  les  Francais. 
M.  Croiset,  membre  de  1'Institut,  a  par!6 
des  liens  intellectuels  entre  la  France  et 
1-es  Etats-Unis.  M.  Lagrave,  repr£sentant 
du '  Ministere  du  commerce  a  parl£  des 
relations  entre  les  deux  pays,  etc. 

La  plus  grande  cordiality  a  preside  a 
cette  belle  f£te  qui  marquera  dans  les  an- 
nales  dela  colonie  francaise  de  New- York. 

[Jeudi  29  mai  1902.] 

A  LJUNIVERSIT£  COLUMBIA. 

Depuis  leur  arrived  aux  Etats-Unis,  les 
membres  de  la  mission  franfaise  dont  le 
g£ne>al  Brug&re  est  le  chef  se  conferment 
strictement  au  programme  qui  avait  £t£  ar- 
ret£  avant  leur  arriv£e  et  dans  lequel  on  a 
oubli£  de  leur  manager  quelques  heures  de 
repos  au  milieu  de  cette  succession  de  f  £tes. 
Comme  jadis  le  prince  Henri  de  Prusse,  ils 
vont  de  banquet  en  banquet,  de  revue  en 
revue,  et  il  ne  semble  pas  que  cette  cam- 
pagne  de  paix,  presque  aussi  fatigante 


qu'une  campagne  de  guerre,  mette  leurs 
forces  a  une  trop  rude  £preuve.  Les  cinq 
dames  qui  accompagnent  la  mission,  Mme. 
Cambon,  Mme.  de  Rochambeau,  Mme. 
Peirce,  Mme.  de  Margerie  et  Mme.  Vignal, 
ne  sont  pas  moins  vaillantes  que  leurs 
maris. 

La  journ6e  d'hier  a  encore  £t£  bien  rem- 
plie.  D£s  8  heures  du  matin,  le  ge'ne'ral 
Brugere  et  1'amiral  Fournier  quittaient 
I'h6tel  Waldorf  en  compagnie  du  colonel 
Bingham  et  du  commandant  Rodgers, 
dengue1  sdu  President  Roosevelt,  pouraller 
rendre  visite  au  g£n€ral  Brooke,  comman 
dant  la  division  de  1'Atlantique,  a  Govern 
or's  Island,  et  au  contre-amiral  Barker, 
commandant  de  1'arsenal  maritime  de 
Brooklyn.  Cinq  minutes  apt £s  leur  retour 
au  Waldorf,  les  envoy£s  fran£ais  rece- 
vaient  le  maire  L,ow,  qui  devait  se  rendre 
avec  la  mission  a  1'universite'  Columbia  et 
a  la  tombe  du  g£n6ral  Grant. 

A  onze  heures,  un  cortege  compost  de 
dix  voitures  quittait  I'hStel.  En  1'absence 
de  M.  Cambon,  qui  £tait  parti  mardi  soir 
pour  Washington,  ou  il  assistait  hier  aux 
fun£railles  de  lord  Pauncefote,  le  g£n£ral 
Brugere  est  montd  dans  la  premiere  voi- 
ture,  avec  le  maire  I,ow.  I,e  cortege  a 
suivi  la  5*  avenue  jusqu'a  la  59*  rue,  a  tra 
verse  le  pare  Central  jusqu'a  la  noe  rue  et 
s'est  dirig6  vers  l'universit£  Columbia  par 
Morningside  avenue  et  la  n6e  rue.  II  £tait 
pres  de  midi  lorsque  M.  I,ow  et  ses  invite's 
sont  arrives  devant  la  bibliothdquedel'uni- 
versit^,  sur  les  marches  de  laquelle  environ 
500  6tudiants  6taient  group^s.  Accueillis 
par  des  hourras  retentissants,  le  g£n£ral 
Brugdre  et  les  autres  envoy£s  fraii9ais  ont 
paru  charm^s  de  cet  enthousiasme  qui 
s'adressait  a  la  fois  a  la  mission  Rocham 
beau  et  au  maire  LOW.  1'ancien  president 
de  Tuniversit6  Columbia. 

I,e  professeur  Cohn,  chef  du  d6partement 
des  langues  romanes,  entour^  de  tout  le 
personnel  de  ce  d6partement,  a  recu  M. 
I^ow  et  la  mission  francaise  et  a  conduit 
les  visiteurs  dans  la  biblibtheque,  ou  les 
attendait  M.  Butler,  le  successeur  de  M. 
L,ow  comme  president  de  1' university. 
Apr^s  leur  avoir  souhait6  la  bienvenue, 
M.  Butler  a  invit6  le  g^n^ral  Brugere  et  ses 
compagnons  a  visiter  1' university. 

Cette  visite  termin£e,  le  cortege  s'est  re- 
forme  pour  se  rendre  a  la  tombe  de  Grant, 


Supplementary  Papers 


561 


ou  le  general  Horace  Porter  a  fait  ouvrir 
1'escalier  conduisant  a  la  crypte.  C'est  la 
premiere  fois,  parait-il,  que  des  personnes 
n'appartenant  pas  a  la  famille  Grant  sont 
admises  dans  cette  partie  du  monument. 

Mme.  L,ow  et  Mme.  Whitelaw  Reid 
avaient  preced^  les  invites  au  Claremont 
ou  un  dejeuner  de  cent  converts  etait  servi 
dans  une  salle  donnant  sur  1'Hudson  et 
ou  on  jouit  d'une  vue  magnifique. 

Outre  les  membres  de  la  mission  fran- 
£aise,  on  remarquait  parmi  les  invites  M. 
Bruwaert,  consul-general  de  France,  et 
Mme.  Bruwaert,  M.  Velten,  consul  suppli 
ant,  le  general  di  Cesnola,  le  professeur 
Adolphe  Cohn,  M.  Fr£d£ric  R.  Coudertfils, 
M.  Durand  Ruel,  M.  Henry  E.  Gourd,  M. 
Robert  J.  Hoguet,  M.  Adrian  Iselin  fils, 
M.  John  I^a  Farge,  etc. 


[Vendredi  30  mai  1902.] 

M.  Cambon,  ambassadeur  de  France,  le 
general  Brug£re  et  les  membres  de  la  mis 
sion  fran?aise  sont  partis  hier  soir  a  minuit 
pour  Newport  (Rhode  Island),  ou  ils  se 
rendent  par  chemin  de  fer.  Ils  doivent,  a 
1'occasion  du  Memorial  Day,  deposer  au- 
jourd'hui  une  couronne  sur  la  tombe  du 
chevalier  de  Ternay,  chef  d'escadre,  qui 
commandait,  en  1780,  les  forces  navales 
francaises  chargees  de  transporter  en 
Amerique  les  soldats  de  ROCHAMBEAU. 
I^e  cuirass^  le  Gaulois  a  quitt6  New- York 
hier  soir;  il  a  pass6  la  quarantaine  a  8  h. 
35.  I,e  Gaulois  ne  se  rendra  pas  a  New 
port;  c'est  a  Boston,  ou  les  membres  de  la 
mission  arriveront  samedi  par  chemin  de 
fer,  qu'il  les  rejoindra.  I,e  depart  pour  la 
France  est  fix£,  comme  on  sait,  at  di- 
manche  ier  juin. 

Un  train  special  compost  de  trois 
wagons-salons  et  d'un  wagon-buffet  les 
avait  conduits  £  Ophir  Farm,  la  propri£t£ 
de  M.  Reid  pres  de  White  Plains.  Parmi 
les  invites  americains  on  remarquait  M. 
Seth  I^ow,  maire  de  New- York,  M.  Abram 
S.  Hewitt,  1'ancien  maire,  le  general  Webo, 
fils  de  M.  J.  W.  Webb,  ancien  ministre  des 
Etats-Unis  en  France,  M.  Ogden  Mills, 
etc.  Apres  le  dejeuner,  une  assez  longue 
promenade  dans  la  campagne  voisine  a 
permis  aux  envoy£s  fran£ais  de  faire  con- 

S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 36 


naissance  avec  la  nature  am£ricaine,  qu'ils 
n'avaient  vue  jusqu'ici  qu'en  traversant  le 
pays  a  toute  vapeur. 

Un  peu  avant  cinq  heures  du  soir,  la 
mission  £tait  de  retour  a  I'h6tel  Waldorf, 
d'oii  elle  repartait  a  sept  heures  et  demie 
pour  se  rendre  au  banquet  qui  lui  etait 
offert  chez  Delmonico  par  la  soci£t£  irlan- 
daise,  les  Friendly  Sons  of  Saint  Patrick. 
Une  escorte  d'honneur  avait  et£  fournie 
par  le  regiment  irlandais,  le  69*,  qui  vou- 
lait  affirmer  ainsi  ses  sympathies  pour  la 
France. 

I,e  banquet  a  etc  servi  dans  la  grande 
salle  de  Delmonico,  admirablement  de- 
cor£e  et  6clair6e  par  des  centaines  de  lu- 
mieres  £lectriques.  I,es  invites  francais 
£taieut  au  nombre  de  31,  et  il  y  avait  une 
vingtaine  d'autres  invites,  parmi  lesquels 
nous  citerons  Mgr.  Ireland,  archeve*que  de 
Saint-Paul,  Mgr.  MacGoldrick,  evgque  de 
Duluth,  le  g£n6ral  Horace  Porter,  le  sena- 
teur  Chauncey  Depew,  M.  Seth  I,ow,  le 
contre-amiral  Barker,  les  g£n£raux  Wes- 
ton  et  Sheridan,  le  colonel  Duffy,  comman 
dant  le  69*,  etc.  Des  discours  ont  £t£  pro- 
nonce^  par  Mgr.  Ireland,  par  M.  Bourke 
Cochrane,  par  le  juge  Fitzgerald,  etc.,  dans 
lesquels  les  orateurs  ont  et€  d'accord  pour 
exprimer  1'attachement  traditionnel  des 
Irlandais  pour  la  France.  On  n'a  pas  man 
que  de  rappeler— et  avec  raison — que  par- 
mi  les  troupes  du  g£n6ral  de  ROCHAMBEAU 
qui  combattirent  pour  1'independance 
am£ricaine  se  trouvait  un  regiment  irlan 
dais,  sous  les  ordres  du  comte  Dillon.  Et 
a  ce  propos,  ne  semble-t-il  pas  que  si  1'em- 
pereur  Guillaume  II  s'obstine  a  faire  ca- 
deau  aux  Etats-Unis  d'une  statue  de  Fr6- 
d6ric  le  Grand,  les  Irlandais  devraient  se 
cotiser  pour  en  £riger  une  autre  au  comte 
Dillon?  On  pourrait  sansdoute  lui  trouver 
une  place  a  Washington  non  loin  des  sta 
tues  de  I,afayette  et  de  ROCHAIVIBEAU. 

I,e  temps  et  la  place  nous  ont  manqu£, 
depuis  quelques  jours,  pour  signaler  les 
articles  pleins  de  cordialite  de  nos  con 
freres  americains  a  l'6gard  de  la  mission 
du  general  Brugere,  et  cependant  plusieurs 
de  ces  articles  meritaient,  a  tous  les  £gards, 
d'etre  notes.  I,es  journaux  ont  fid£le- 
ment  refl6t6  les  sentiments  d  amitie  et  de 
sympathie  que  la  population  de  New- York 
manifestait  a  1'egard  de  ses  h6tes  francais. 


562 


Supplementary  Papers 


BOSTON,  ier  jutn. — L,e  diner  donne  hier 
soir  aux  membres  de  la  mission  Rocham- 
beau  a  eu  lieu  dans  la  grande  salle  a  man 
ger  du  Somerset  Hotel  dScoree  a  profusion 
de  drapeanx  francais  et  americains.  M- 
Patrick  A.  Collins,  maire  de  Boston,  a  le 
premier  pris  la  parole  et  a  souhaite  la 
bienvenue  aux  membres  de  la  mission.  II 
a  presente  a  1'assistance  le  lieutenant-gou- 
verneur  John  1,.  Bates,  qui  a  parie  au  nom 
de  1'Etat  du  Massachusetts.  M.  Bates  a 
dit  que  1'Amerique  n'oublierait  jamais  ce 
que  la  r6publique-sceur,  la  France,  avait 
fait  pour  elle  dans  un  moment  critique. 

M.  Collins  a  ensuite  bu  a  la  sante  du  Pr£- 
sident  Roosevelt.  Ce  toast  a  etc  salue  par 
de  nombreux  applaudissements. 

M.  Georges  A.  Hibbard,  directeur  des 
postes  a  Boston,  a  egalement  pris  la  parole. 
Son  discours  a  ete  une  plaidoirie  en  faveur 
de  la  paix  universelle  et  des  bienfaits  qui 
pourraient  en  resulter. 

M.  Collins  a  alors  propose  un  nouveau 
toast,  celui  de  la  r6publique  francaise, 
toast  qui  a  £t6  porte  au  milieu  du  plus 
grand  enthousiasme. 

M.  Cambon,  ambassadeur  de  France  a 
Washington,  s'est  ensuite  lev£.  II  a  de 
clare  qu'il  regrettait  profond£ment  que 
ses  compatriotes  soient  obliges  de  le  quit 
ter,  et  a  ajoute  qu'eux  aussi  s'en  allaient  a 
regret  d'un  pays  ou  on  leur  avait  fait  un 
si  parfait  accueil.  L,es  receptions  qu'on  a 
accordees  aux  membres  de  la  mission  ont 
ete  tous  les  jours  de  plus  en  plus  belles  et 
on  peut  dire  de  celle-ci  qu'elle  est  la  plus 
remarquable  de  toutes,  car  elle  est  donn£e 
a  Boston  qui  est  la  fleur  de  toutes  les  villes 
de  1'Amerique.  Parlant  de  M.  I/>ubet,  M. 
Cambon  a  dit  que  la  r6publique  francaise 
avait  a  sa  t€te  un  homme  sur  lequel  repo- 
sait  la  confiance  du  pays. 

M.  T.  Jefferson  Coolidge,  ex-ambassa- 
deur  des  Etats-Unis  en  France,  a  fait  allu 
sion  a  son  heureux  sejour  dans  ce  pays  au 
cours  de  sa  carriere  diplomatique.  II  a 
ajoute  que  les  Etats-Unis  avaient  contract  e 
envers  la  France  une  dette  de  reconnais 
sance  plus  grande  que  celle  qu'ils  devaient 
a  tous  les  autres  pays  reunis. 

L,e  general  Brugere  a  parle  en  francais. 
Son  discours  a  £te  court  et  energique,' 
comme  celui  d'un  soldat: 

"  Je  vous  remercie  beaucoup,  messieurs, 
de  Taccueil  que  -vous  nous  avez  fait.  Je 


bois  a  la  nation  am^ricaine,  a  la  grande 
nation,  qui  a  produit  1'intelligence,  1'ac- 
tivite,  la  tenacite,  la  perseverance,  la  g^- 
nerosite,  la  liberte,  la  justice  et  r£galite." 

M.  Eliot,  president  de  1'universite  d'Har- 
vard,  a  succede  au  general  Brugere.  Son 
discours,  tire  de  1'histoire,  a  ete  tres  ap- 
precie.  II  a  fait  d'heureuses  allusions  aux 
qualites  genereuses  que  possedaient  les 
soldats  de  I^afayette  et  de  ROCHAMBEAU. 

I^e  president  de  la  chambre  de  commerce 
de  Boston  a  parie  en  faveur  de  relations 
commerciales  plus  etroites  entre  la  France 
et  les  Etats-Unis. 

lye  vice-amiral  Fournier  a  declare  que  les 
membres  de  la  mission  ne  savaient  de  quelle 
fason  remercier  la  ville  de  Boston  de  1'ac- 
cueil  qu'elle  leur  avait  fait.  I,es  receptions 
de  Washington  et  de  New- York  ont  ete  cer- 
tainement  magnifiques,  mais  c'est  Boston 
qui  a  fait  le  plus  bel  accueil  a  la  mission 
fran£aise. 

M.  Croiset,  doyen  de  la  faculte  des  let- 
tres  a  Paris,  a  termine  la  serie  des  discours 
en  disant  qu'il  ne  pouvait  quitter  Boston 
sans  remercier  cette  ville  des  attentions 
qu'elle  avait  cues  pour  les  membres  de  la 
mission.  Boston,  a-t-il  ajoute,  est  une  ville 
que  le  monde  entier  doit  prendre  pour 
exemple. 


BOSTON,  ier  juin,  soir. — I,es  sentiments 
de  reconnaissance  et  d'amitie,  qui  ont  aug- 
mente  tous  les  jours  dans  le  coeur  des  mem 
bres  de  la  mission  francaise  depuis  leur  ar- 
rivee  aux  Etats-Unis,  se  sont  manifestes 
pour  la  derniere  fois  cet  apres-midi  a  bord 
du  Gaulois  ou  a  lieu  le  diner  d'adieu. 

Vers  ii  heures  30  minutes  les  invites 
montaient  dans  des  chaloupes  a  vapeur  et 
se  rendaient  a  bord  du  cuirasse.  L,a  table 
du  diner  avait  ete  dressee  sur  le  pont,  3. 
1'arri^re  du  navire,  sous  une  tente  formee 
de  drapeaux  francais  et  americains  et 
tres  artistenient  decoree  de  fleurs.  I,e 
diner  a  dure  environ  deux  heures.  Au 
dessert  le  general  Brugere  s'est  leve  et  a 
propose  en  francais  le  toast  suiyant: 

"Je  bois  a  la  sante  de  la  France  et  de 
I'Amerique,  je  ne  veux  pas  dire  de  la 
France  et  de  I'Amerique  telles  qu'elles 
etaient  il  y  a  cent  vingt  ans,  mais  des  deux 
republiques  de  nos  jours — je  bois  egale 
ment  a  la  sante  du  President  I,oubet  et  du 
President  Roosevelt." 


Supplementary  Papers 


563 


Le  contre-amiral  Higginson  a  ensuite 
prononce  1'allocution  suivante: 

"Je  regrette  heaucoup  d'etre  oblig6  de 
faire  tirer  une  salve  pour  saluer  les  mem- 
bras  de  la  mission  francaise  qui  quittent 
nos  c6tes  pour  revenir  en  France.  II  me 
semble  que  cette  mission  Rochambeau  est 
venue  fort  a  propos.  Elle  a  remu6  dans 
le  cceur  de  tous  les  Americains  une  corde 
sensible  qui  ne  demandait  qu'a  vibrer. 
Lorsque  le  President  rentre  ou  sort  de  la 
Maison  Blanche  il  voit  d'un  c6te  la  statue 
de  Lafayette  et  de  1'autre  celle  de  RO 
CHAMBEAU.  II  ne  peut  de  cette  facon  ou- 
blier  leur  signification,  car  ces  deux  sta 
tues  represeentent  ainsi  continuellement  a 
ses  yeux  Tamiti^  de  la  France. 

'•A  1'occasion  de  votre  depart,  general, 
je  vous  souhaite  un  bou  voyage." 

lye  lieutenant-colonel  Meaux  Saint-Marc, 
reprseentant  du  President  I,oubet,  a  pris  la 
parole  pour  declarer  qu'il  avait  eprouv£  le 
plus  grand  plaisir  a  faire  partie  de  la  mis 
sion  en  qualit^  de  representant  du  Presi 
dent  de  la  Republique  francaise  et  il  a 
termini  son  discours  par  le  toast  suivant: 

"  Cest  un  honneur  pour  moi  de  lever  mon 
verre  au  nom  du  President  de  la  Republi 
que  francaise  et  de  boire  a  la  sant6  du 
President  de  votre  pays,  M.  Theodore 
Roosevelt." 

Le  vice-amiral  Fournier  a  termini  la  se- 
rie  des  discours  en  faisant  allusion  aux 
liens  d'amitie  qui  unissent  la  France  et  les 
Etats-Unis  et  a  ajoute  qu'il  etait  certain 
qu'ils  continueraient  a  exister.  II  fait  des 
vo2ux  pour  que  tout  officier  de  la  marine 
americaine  regoive  en  France  le  meme 
accueil  que  celui  qui  a  etc  accord^  ici  aux 
representants  de  la  Republique  frangaise. 

Parmi  les  personnes  qui  ont  assist^  au 
diner  nous  citerous  M.  Cambon  et  tous  les 
membres  de  1'ambassade  frangaise  a  Wash 
ington,  M.  Herbert  H.  D.  Peirce,  sous-secre 
taire  d'Etat,  le  colonel  Theodore  A.  Bing- 
ham,  le  commandant  Raymond  P.  Rod- 
gers,  M.  Collins,  maire  de  Boston,  le 
contre-amiral  Mortimer  Johnson,  le  contre- 
amiral  Francis  J.  Higginson,  etc. 

Parmi  les  dames  presentes  on  remarquait 
Mme.  Cambon,  la  comtesse  de  Rocham 
beau,  Mme.  Herbert  H.  D.  Peirce,  Mme.  de 
Margerie,  Mme.  Vignal,  Mme.  et  Miles. 
Johnson,  Miles.  Collins,  etc. 


Aussit6t  apres  le  diner,  le  Gaulois  a  Iev6 
1'ancre  accompagn6  du  cuirasse  Kearsarge 
et  du  croiseur  Olympia.  II  a  ensuite  salue 
la  terre  americaine  de  vingt  et  un  coups  de 
canon.  Ce  salut  a  et£  rendu  par  1'  Olympia. 
Lorsque  le  Gaulois  est  arrive  au  phare  de 
Boston,  les  navires  americains  1'ont  quitt£ 
et  V  Olympia  a  tire  une  salve  de  dix -sept 
coups  de  canon  en  1'honneur  du  general 
Brugere  et  une  autre  de  quinze  en  1'hon- 
ueur  du  vice-amiral  Fournier. 

Plusieurs  membres  de  la  mission  ne  sont 
pas  repartis  en  France  et  vont  se  rendre  a 
1' exposition  de  Saint-Louis.  Le  cotnte  et 
la  comtesse  de  Rochambeau,  le  comte  de 
Lafayette,  le  vicomte  de  Chambrun,  M. 
Jean  Guilletnin,  M.  Robert  de  Billy  et 
M.  Jules  Bceufv£  sont  partis  cet  apres-midi 
pour  New- York. 

ly'etat  du  commandant  Berthelot,  aidede 
camp  du  general  Brugere,  qui  s'etait  si 
malheureusement  cass£  la  jambe  gauche 
en  visitant  hier  le  Navy- Yard,  est  des  plus 
satisfaisants.  II  est  reparti  avecle  Gaulois. 

Le  cuirass^  franjais  se  rendra  d'abord  a 
lyisbonne  et  de  la  directement  en  France. 


juin  1902.] 

LES  ADIEUX  DU  GENERAL 
BRUGERE 

REPONSE    DU   PRESIDENT   ROOSEVELT 

WASHINGTON,  /«*  jutn.—A.  la  veille  de 
son  depart  pour  la  France,  a  bord  du  cui 
rasse  le  Gaulois,  le  general  Brugere,  chef 
de  la  mission  envoyee  par  le  President 
I,oubet  a  1'inauguration  du  monument  de 
Rochambeau,  a  adress6 au  President  Roose 
velt  la  dep6che  suivante : 

"BOSTON  (Mass.),  ji  may  2002. 
"A  son  excellence  THEODORE  ROOSEVELT, 

President  des  Etats-Unis  : 
"Avant  mon  depart  pour  la  France,  ou 
m'appellent  d'importants  devoirs,  je  desire 
vous  adresser,  monsieur  le  President,  ainsi 
qu'au  gouvernement  et  au  peuple  des 
Etats-Unis,  les  remeiciements  de  la  mis 
sion  francaise  pour  1'accueilchaud  et  sym- 
pathique  qu'elle  a  regu  dans  votre  beau 
pays. 


Supplementary  Papers 


"Nous  emportons  avec  nous,  de  notre 
s£jour  de  trop  courte  duree  sur  cette  terre 
hospitalidre,  un  souvenir  ineffa9able.  Nous 
y  avons  trouve'  plus  vivace  que  jamais  le 
souvenir  de  la  fraternit£d'armes  qui  unis- 
sait  les  soldats  de  Washington  a  ceux  de 
ROCHAMBEAU,  et  il  m'est  particulierement 
agr£able  de  penser  que  notre  visite  aura 
pu  contribuer  a  resserrer  les  liens  d'ami- 
tie  traditionnelle  qui,  depuis  plus  d'un 
siecle,  ont  exist£  entre  les  E)tats-Unis  et  la 
France. 

"  Permettez-moi,  monsieur  le  President, 
de  vous  remercier  personnellement  de  la 
cordiale  sympathie  que  vous  avez  bien 
voulu  manifester  a  mon  6gard,  et  de  vous 
dire  que  nous  formons  tous  des  vceux 
pour  votre  prosp£rit£  et  pour  celle  de  la 
grande  nation  am£ricaine,  1'amie  de  la 
France. 

"Ge'ne'ral  BRUGERE." 

1,6  President  Roosevelt  a  r£pondu  au 
ge'ne'ral  Brugere  par  la  d£p£che  suivante: 

"MAISON  BLANCHE, 

Washington,  lerjuin  1902. 
"Au  g£n£ral   BRUGERE,  &  bord  du   Gau- 

lois,  Boston  (Mass.)  : 

"  Veuillez  accepter  mes  plus  sinc£res  re- 

merciements  pour  votre  message  couitois. 

"Cela  a  £t6  pour  notre  peuple  un  vrai 

plaisir,  non  seulement  de  recevoir  1'am- 


bassade  de  notre  grande  R£publique-sceur, 
dans  une  circonstance  comme  celle-ci,  mais 
spe'cialement  de  recevoir  une  ambassade 
composee  d'hommes  tels  que  ceux  que  le 
President  I,oubet  a  envoyes  ici. 

"Votre  visite  a  eu  de  bons  re\sultats  de 
plus  d'une  fagon,  et  au  nom  du  peuple 
am^ricain,  je  desire  vous  exprimer  de  nou- 
veau  combien  notre  accueil  a  £t6  sincere 
et  souhaiter  tout  bonheur,  dans  le  present 
et  dans  1'avenir  a  vous  et  a  la  nation  que 
vous  repr6sentez. 

"  THEDORE  ROOSEVELT." 


L' OPINION  FRANCAISE 

PARIS,  ierjuin.—*L,e  public  francais  suit 
avec  beaucoup  d'int£r6t  toutes  les  phases 
des  fetes donn£es  aux  Etats-Unis  en  Thon- 
neur  de  la  mission  Rochambeau,  telles 
qu'elles  sont  decrites  par  les  d£p£ches  des 
journaux  quotidiens. 

I,a  presse  commente  avec  Emotion  la  cor- 
dialit6  que  les  Americains  ont  montree 
aux  membres  de  la  mission  fran^aise  et 
les  g£n£reux  et  prompts  secours  qui  ont 
£t6  port^s  a  la  Martinique. 

I^a  magnifique  reception  des  envoy^s  de 
la  France  a  certainement  raviv^  dans 
toutes  les  classes  de  la  societ£  les  senti 
ments  de  la  plus  grande  affection  envers 
le  peuple  am6ricain. 


III.  THE  ARMY  OF  ROCHAMBEAU 


REGIMENT  DE  BOURBONNAIb 

This  was  the  senior  of  the  regiments  of  the  French  army  which  served 
in  the  States.  Its  first  colonel  was  Philibert,  Marquis  de  Merestang,  1597. 
The  regimental  colors  (drapeau  d'ordonnance)  of  the  corps  were  com 
posed  of  two  quarters  violet  and  two  of  azure  blue.  The  colonel's  colors 
(drapeau  colonel)  were  entirely  white. 

The  regiment  during  its  early  years  bore  successively  the  names  of  its 
colonels.  It  took  the  designation  Bourbonnais  February  i,  1673.  Its  long 
history  offers  a  series  of  most  high  and  valiant  feats  of  arms.  It  took  part 
in  the  German  campaigns  of  1760,  1761,  and  1762  (Seven  Years'  War). 

The  Marquis  de  I^ava!  (Anne  Alexander  Marie  Sulpice  de  Montmorencie) 
assumed  command  April  18,  1776,  as  colonel,  and  served  with  the  regiment 
in  America. 

It  went  out  of  existence  by  name  in  the  general  wreck  of  the  French 
Revolution. 

The  Bourbonnais  was  in  Corsica  at  the  time  of  the  declaration  of  Ameri 
can  independence.  In  that  year  it  left  that  island.  In  1779,  after  war 
had  been  declared  against  France  by  England,  on  account  of  the  treaty 
alliance  with  the  United  States  and  the  recognition  of  its  independence 
by  the  French  Government,  it  was  sent  into  Brittany.  For  some  time  it 
occupied  Rennes.  At  Brest  it  embarked  for  America  April  7,  1780. 

In  March,  1781,  it  fought  on  the  French  vessels  of  war  Ardent  and  Jason, 
in  the  naval  action  of  Chesapeake  Bay. 

The  Bourbonnais  passed  the  winter  1780-81  at  Newport,  R.  I.  In  June, 
1781,  the  regiment  marched  with  the  other  troops  of  ROCHAMBEAU  to  join 
the  American  forces  in  the  field. 

On  July  21,  2,500  men  of  the  army  of  ROCHAMBEAU,  the  Regiments 
Bourbonnais  and  Royal  Deux-Ponts,  also  a  battalion  formed  of  companies 
d'elite  of  Regiment  Soissonnais,  commanded  by  M.  le  Chevalier  de  Chas- 
tellux,  made  a  reconnoissance  at  Kings  Bridge,  forcing  the  English  back 
upon  their  defenses. 

The  French  troops,  after  a  remarkable  march,  notwithstanding  the 
excessive  heat,  arrived  at  Philadelphia  on  August  15. 

565 


566  The  Army  of  Rochambeau 

The  enthusiasm  of  the  inhabitants  when  the  regiments  entered  the  city 
was  immense.  The  entire  population  was  en  fete.  The  houses  were 
adorned  with  the  flags  of  the  two  nations.  When  the  French  warriors 
defiled  in  the  presence  of  Congress  this  assemblage  honored  them  with  a 
fraternal  salute  and  loud  acclamations. 

The  French  remained  at  Philadelphia  but  a  day.  At  Chester  they  learned 
that  the  fleet  of  Count  de  Grasse  had  entered  the  Chesapeake.  They  at 
once,  by  forced  marches,  pushed  on  for  the  head  of  that  bay  ( Head  of  Elk), 
where  some  of  the  companies  embarked.  The  rest  of  the  troops  marched 
on  to  Baltimore  and  Annapolis,  where  they  found  boats  for  their  transpor 
tation  to  the  seat  of  active  hostilities. 

The  flotilla  having  traversed  Chesapeake  Bay  entered  the  James  River. 
These  regiments  here  formed  a  junction  with  those  which  Count  de  Grasse 
had  brought  from  the  Antilles,  commanded  by  Marquis  Saint-Simon  and 
the  American  regiments  of  Lafayette. 

On  September  28,  when  the  movement  against  Yorktown  began,  the 
French  were  charged  to  attack  on  the  left.  The  Bourbonnais  opened  the 
trenches  on  the  night  of  October  6-7,  1781.  The  I5th  of  the  same  month 
it  vigorously  repulsed  a  .sortie. 

This  regiment  immediately  occupied  all  the  posts  of  its  attack  and 
inscribed  upon  its  colors  a  new  victory. 

The  regiments  which  had  come  from  the  Antilles,  having  reembarked 
November  4,  the  Regiment  Bourbonnais  on  the  I4th  went  into  quarters  at 
Williamsburg,  Va.  In  1782  it  marched  north  to  the  Hudson,  thence 
to  Rhode  Island  and  Boston,  where  it  embarked  on  the  fleet  of  M.  de 
Vaudreuil  for  the  West  Indies. 

Upon  its  arrival  in  France  the  Bourbonnais  was  sent  to  Metz.  This 
regiment  lost  its  ancient  name  in  1791.  It  then  became  the  Thirteenth 
regiment  of  Infantry. 

REGIMENTAL    ORGANIZATION 

The  following  represents  the  field  and  company  organizations  of  the 
Bourbonnais  Regiment,  with  the  names  and  American  distinctions  of  the 
officers  commanding: 

Colonel.  —  Le  Marquis  de  Laval  (Anne  Alexandre,  Marie  Sulpice  Joseph) 
born  in  Paris;  December  5,  1781,  brigadier-general  for  services  at  York- 
town. 

Colonel  en  second.—^z  Comte  de  Rochambeau  (Donatien  Marie  Joseph 
de  Vimeur)  born  in  Paris  1755;  December  5, 1781,  in  the  line  of  regimental 
command  (without  being  subject  to  the  custom  of  six  years  commission  as 
colonel)  for  good  conduct  at  Yorktown. 

Lieutenant- Colonel. — De  Bressoles  (Gilbert);  born  1739  at  La  Planche; 
December  5,  1781,  pensioned  by  the  King  with  the  Order  of  St.  Louis  for 
good  conduct  at  Yorktown. 


The  Army  of  Rochambeau  567 

Major. — De  Gambs  (Jean  Danile) ;  born  at  Strassburg  1741 ;  December  5, 
1781,  pensioned  by  the  King  for  good  conduct  at  Yorktown. 

Paymaster.— Besuchet  (Antoine  Joseph);  born  at  Salins  1733. 

Captains  commandant  and  en  second  (20}. — Petele  de  Monfort,  born 
1740,  chevalier  of  St.  Louis,  August  9,  1778.  De  Losse  de  Bayac,  born  1742; 
mayor,  1782.  De  Lanet,  born  1738;  captain  grenadiers,  October  6,  1780; 
Cross  of  St.  Louis,  December  5,  1781;  brevet  major  for  Yorktown.  De 
Cazals,  born  1739;  captain  grenadiers,  April  15,  1780.  Le  Seigneur  Du 
Chevalier,  born  1743;  major  of  Soissonnais,  1784.  Lassuderie  de  Campanes, 
born  1739;  captain  commandant  chasseurs,  March  19,  1780;  grenadiers, 
1784;  pensioned  April  2,  1782,  for  services  at  Yorktown.  Desondes,  born 
1743;  captain  commandant,  March  19,  1780.  De  La  Brue,  born  1743,  cap 
tain  commandant,  March  19,  1780,  Riffault  Duplexy,  born  1745;  captain 
commandant,  March  6,  1780.  Le  Chevalier  de  Chalvet  de  Rochemonteix, 
born  1747;  captain  commandant,  April  6,  1780;  retired,  1782.  De  Corn  De 
Peyroux,  born  1751;  captain  commandant,  April  15,  1780.  Le  Chevalier  du 
Faure  de  Prouilhac,  born  1750;  captain  commandant,  June  i,  1782.  De 
Mauny,  born  1749;  captain  commandant,  December  3,  1782;  en  second  from 

March,  1780.    Chennevieres,  born ;  commandant  en  second,  grenadiers, 

June  6,  1780.  Danceau  De  Morand,  born  1751;  .captain  second,  March  19, 
1780.  De  La  Chassaigne,  born  1749;  captain  second,  March  19,  1780.  De 
Saint-Aubin,  born  1724;  captain  en  second,  March  19,  1780.  De  Hitton, 
born  1751.  Le  Roux  De  Kerninon  and  Le  Chevalier  D'Arlande,  born  1749. 

First  and  second  lieutenants  (37}. — For  or  during  their  American 
service  nearly  all  of  the  officers  of  this  rank  received  promotion.  De 
Corioles  was  brevetted  for  conduct  at  Yorktown.  De  Catey  fought  in 
three  battles  during  the  war  in  America  and  survived  a  storm. 

Students  of  the  military  school  sent  by  France  to  join  the  Bourbonnais, 
October,  1781,  on  the  Pauline  (7). 

Companies. — According  to  the  custom  of  France  in  that  day,  the  com 
panies  bore  the  names  of  their  captains,  except  the  grenadier  (right) 
chasseur  (left). 

Rank  and  file 

Grenadiers,  De  Lancet 78 

Desondes 117 

Du  Plessis 130 

Montfort in 

De  Losse  de  Bayac 114 

De  Cazals 117 

De  La  Brue , 128 

Du  Chevalier 1 26 

De  Chalvet 114 

Chasseurs,  De  Lassuderie,  captain 1 16 


Total  rank  and  file i,  151 


568  The  Army  of  Rochambeau 

Field  officers  and  staff 5 

Line  officers: 

Captains,  commandant  and  en  second 20 

Lieutenants,  first  and  second 37 

Cadets 7 


Total  field,  line,  rank  and  file i,  220 

REGIMENT  DE  SOISSONNAIS 

The  first  colonel  of  this  regiment  was  Le  Comte  de  Grancy  (Jacques, 
Raoul  de  Medvay),  1630. 

In  April,  1780,  two  battalions  of  the  regiment  embarked  at  Brest  with 
the  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  to  carry  succor  to  the  States  of  America.  It 
debarked  with  the  rest  of  the  corps  in  the  month  of  July  at  Newport,  R.  I. 
With  the  Bourbonnais,  it  was  at  first  employed  as  a  guard  of  the  posts  of 
Rhode  Island.  It  participated  in  all  the  principal  operations  of  the  army 
of  ROCHAMBEAU. 

On  July  21,  1781,  the  companies  d' elite  of  the  Soissonnais  took  part  in 
the  expedition  of  Chevalier  du  Chastellux  against  Kings  Bridge.  On  Au 
gust  15,  after  the  army  compelled  the  English  to  withdraw  to  their  works, 
the  Soissannais,  with  the  other  regiments  marched  to  Philadelphia,  where 
it  rendered  honors  to  Congress  and  was  loudly  applauded. 

On  September  28,  it  marched  with  the  army  to  Yorktown  and  opened 
the  trenches  on  the  left  with  the  Bourbonnais  on  the  night  of  October  6-7. 

After  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  the  Soissonnais  established  itself  in 
winter  quarters  at  Hampton. 

It  remained  there  until  1782  when  it  marched  with  the  rest  of  the  French 
auxiliary  army  to  the  American  camp  on  the  Hudson,  and  thence  to 
Providence,  and  Boston,  where  it  sailed  with  the  rest  of  the  French  corps 
for  the  Antilles. 

In  1791  the  regiment  lost  its  name  Soissonnais,  being  designated  Fortieth 
Regiment  of  Infantry,  and  went  into  garrison  at  Nimes. 

RE^GIMENTAI,   ORGANIZATION 

The  following  represents  the  field  and  company  organizations  with  the 
names  and  American  distinctions  of  officers  commandant: 

Colonel. — Le  Comte  de  Felix  d'OlieVes  de  Saint  Maisme  (Jean  Baptiste, 
Louis  Philippe),  born  in  Olie"res  ( diocese  d'Aix),  December  25,  1751;  colo 
nel,  June  29,  1775;  brigadier,  1784;  Decembers,  1781,  received  a. letter  of 
commendation  for  good  conduct  at  Yorktown. 

Colonels  en  second. — Le  Vicomte  de  Noailles  (Louis  Marie),  born  at 
Paris,  April  17,  1756,  second  son  of  Marshal  de  Mouchey;  colonel  en  second 
March  8,  1780;  named  colonel  of  dragoons  in  1782  for  conduct  at  Yorktown. 


The  Army  of  Rochambeau  569 

Le  Comte  de  Se"gur  (Louis  Philippe),  born  at  Paris,  September  10,  1753; 
colonel  en  second  January  27,  1782,  to  replace  Vicomte  de  Noailles.  The 
Counts  de  Segur  and  Noailles  had  wished  to  depart  for  America  as  volun 
teers  with  Lafayette.  The  opposition  of  their  families  alone  prevented 
their  going.  They  left  later  with  their  regiments. 

Lieutenant-colonel. — D'Anselme  (Bernard  Joseph)  born  at  Apt  (Pro 
vence),  August  26,  1737;  lieutenant-colonel  April  22;  December  5,  1781, 
obtained  a  pension  in  the  Order  of  St.  Louis  for  good  conduct  at  Yorktown. 

Major. — D'Espeyrous  (Pierre)  born  at  Barthelmy  (Perche),  October 
1734;  major,  1780;  December  5,  1781,  pensioned  for  good  conduct  at  York- 
town. 

Paymaster. — L'Estriquier  (Jean)  born  at  Ouchy,  September  6,  1735. 

Captains  commandant  (p). — Didier,  born  1729;  March,  1782,  received 
an  increase  of  "pension  de  retraite"  for  having  made  the  campaign  of 
Yorktown,  although  retired.  De  Bien  de  Chevigny,  born  1737;  March, 
1782,  received  increase  of  "pension  de  retraite  "  for  service  in  the  Yorktown 
campaign,  although  retired.  De  Baudre,  born  1736;  December  5,  1781,  bre- 
vetted  lieutenant-colonel  for  gallantry  at  Yorktown.  De  Marin,  born  1737, 
wounded  seriously  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown;  December  5,  1781,  cross  of 
St.  Louis  and  pension,  died  soon  after  of  his  wound.  De  Gilbert,  born 
1737,  December  5,  1781,  chevalier  St.  Louis  for  gallantry  at  Yorktown. 
De  La  Gardette,  born  1740,  chevalier  St.  Louis,  December,  1781,  for  gal 
lantry  at  Yorktown.  De  La  Boyere,  born  1736,  chevalier  St.  Louis,  De 
cember  5,  1781,  for  gallantry  at  Yorktown.  De  St.  Leger,  born  1736,  captain 
chasseurs,  March  19,  1780.  Du  Palais,  born  1741,  chevalier  St.  Louis, 
August,  1781. 

Captains  en  second  (10} . — Le  Bret;  de  Sinety  (C.  C. ),  April  15,  1780. 
De  Bazin,  October  8,  1780.  Jayet  de  Boudet  (C.  C.),  November  18,  1781; 
honorable  mention  December  5,  1781,  for  gallantry  at  Yorktown.  De 
Menon,  brevetted  major  for  Yorktown.  De  Moyria,  February,  1782,  for 
good  conduct  at  Yorktown.  De  Saint-Victor  (C..  C.),  February  8,  1782. 
DuBois  de  Saint  Gemma  de  la  Grange  (C.  C. ),  1782.  Du  Gats  de  Voreilles, 
March  9,  1780,  chevalier  St.  Louis,  April  2,  1782.  De  la  Caterie,  March 
19,  1780. 

First  lieutenants  (10} . — All  these  officers  received  promotion  to  cap 
tains  commandant  or  en  second  during  their  service  in  America.  De  Cal- 
dagues  also  a  pension  (December  5,  1781)  for  gallantry  at  Yorktown. 

Second  lieutenants  (j/).— Many  of  these  subaltern  officers  received  pro 
motion  during  their  service  in  America.  Ponteves  d'Eyroux  was  men 
tioned  for  gallantry  at  Yorktown.  De  Mollis  was  wounded  at  Yorktown 
and  received  a  pension.  Magusis,  who  was  promoted  from  the  ranks  for 
heroic  conduct  in  the  wars  against  Frederick  the  Great  was  present  at 
Yorktown,  notwithstanding  the  numerous  wounds  he  had  received  in 
former  wars. 


570  The  Army  of  Rochambeau 

Companies  (named  after  their  captains], 

Company:  Rank  and  file. 

De  Grenadiers,  Meneau,  captain 103 

De  Didier ' 121 

De  Bien  de  Chevigny 122 

De  Chasseurs,  De  Baudre 120 

De  Marin , 130 

De  Gilbert 114 

Anselme  de  la  Gardette \ 124 

La  Boyere 121 

De  St.  Leger 115 

Du  Palais '. 115 


Total  rank  and  file „ i,  185 

Field  officers,  including  paymaster 5 

Line  officers: 

Captains  commandant 9 

Captains  en  second 10 

Lieutenants — 

First 10 

Second 31 


Total  field,  line,  rank  and  file -  I,  250 

REGIMENT  DE  SAINTONGE 

The  first  colonel  of  this  regiment  was  the  Marquis  de  Bligny  (Francois- 
Germaine  le  Camus),  1684. 

The  eleventh,  Le  Comte  de  Custine  (Adam  Philippe,  1780). 

The  twelfth,  Le  Vicomte  de  Rochambeau,  son  of  the  General,  Count  DE 
ROCHAMBEAU  (Donatien,  Marie  Joseph  de  Vimeur)  November  n,  1782. 

On  April  26,  1775,  when  it  was  at  Toul  it  was  united  to  the  older  Regi 
ment  de  Cambrisis  which  became  its  second  battalion.  Saintonge  em 
barked  at  Brest  in  April,  1780,  for  the  United  States. 

The  regiment  had  as  its  head  Viscount  de  Custine  who  was  previously 
colonel  of  Rouergue.  He  asked  and  obtained  orders  to  succeed  to  the 
head  of  Saintonge  Viscount  de  BeVanger,  having  been  promoted  to  briga 
dier-general,  January  3,  1780,  at  the  time  his  regiment  was  designated  to 
embark.  Upon  his  return  Custine  resumed  command  of  the  Regiment 
Rouergue. 

The  Viscount  de  Rochambeau  succeeded  Custine  to  the  command  of  the 
Saintonge  and  obtained  later  the  Regiment  Auvergne.  The  regiment  of 
Saintonge  took  part  in  all  the  campaigns  and  distinguished  itself  at  York- 
town.  It  passed  the  following  winter  with  the  rest  of  the  corps  at  Wil- 
liamsburg,  Va.,  and  departed  in  December,  1782,  with  the  rest  of  the 


The  Army  of  Rochambeau  571 

command  for  the  Antilles.  In  1791  Saintonge  in  the  new  regimental 
nomenclature  became  the  Eighty-second  Regiment  of  Infantry  and  went 
into  garrison  at  Montargis. 

REGIMENTAL   ORGANIZATION 

The  following  represents  the  field  and  company  organization,  with  the 
names  of  officers  commandant  and  distinctions  won  in  America: 

Colonel. — Le  Comte  de  Custine  de  Sarreck  (Adam  Philippe),  born  in 
Metz,  February  4,  1740;  colonel,  March  8,  1780;  Decembers,  1781,  received 
recognition  of  merit  and  brevet  from  the  Government  for  conduct  at  York- 
town.  Governor  of  Toulon,  April  19,  1782,  succeeded  by  Vicomte  de 
Rochambeau  at  that  date. 

Colonel  en  second. — Le  Comte  de  Castries  de  Charlus  ( Armand  Charles- 
Augustin),  born  in  Paris,  May  3,  1756;  since  December  5,  1781,  charge"  as 
brigadier-general  of  cavalry,  six  months  before  the  age  of  29  years,  for  his 
conduct  at  Yorktown. 

Lieutenant-colonel. — Le  Chevalier  Chaudron  de  Lavalette  (Charles- 
Francois),  born  June  5,  1731;  brigadier  December  5,  1781,  for  distin 
guished  conduct  in  the  capture  of  Yorktown. 

Major. — Teisseydre  de  Fleury  (Franfois  Louis),  born  August  20,  1749; 
gazetted  in  1781  as  having  distinguished  himself  at  Yorktown.  In  the 
American  service  previously,  on  July  15,  1779,  at  the  taking  of  Stony  Point, 
Major  Fleury  was  the  first  to  reach  the  intrenchments  and  haul  down  the 
English  flag.  On  the  conclusion  of  peace  Congress  bestowed  upon  this 
gallant  officer  a  medal  which  was  presented  by  Franklin. 

Paymaster. — La  Fage  (Bernard),  born  January  6,  1734  ( Comte  de  Foix). 

Captains  commandant  and  en  second  (18} . — De  Farrette  (Baron),  born 
1736;  December  5,  1781,  bre vetted  lieutenant-colonel  for  good  conduct  at 
Yorktown.  Gorot  de  Beaumont,  born  1735;  December  5,  1781,  pensioned 
for  conduct  at  Yorktown.  De  Mouves,  born  1740.  Daurien  de  Madronde 
Brie,  born  (Comte  de  Foix),  1737;  December  5,  1781,  honored  by  mention 
for  his  conduct  at  Yorktown.  Duchesne,  born  1734;  chevalier  of  St.  Louis, 
1781.  DelaFalnere,  born  1743.  De  la  Corbiere,  born  1743;  chevalier  of  St. 
Louis,  December  5,  for  good  conduct  at  Yorktown.  De  Bertrier  des  Forets, 
born  1743;  captain  March  19,  1780;  died  1781.  De  Boisbras  Bedee,  born 
1742;  chevalier  St.  Louis,  December  5,  1781,  for  Yorktown.  Des  Roches, 
born  1742;  chevalier  St.  Louis,  December  5,  1781,  for  Yorktown.  Denos  or 
d'Enos  or  des  Noes,  born  1741;  December  5;  chevalier  St.  Louis  for  York- 
town.  Scot  de  Coulanges,  born  1742;  chevalier  St.  Louis,  December  5, 
1781  for  Yorktown.  De  Courvol,  born  1745;  chevalier  St.  Louis,  1782.  De 
Champagne  (chevalier),  born  1746;  captain  en  second,  March  12,  1780; 
commandant  1782.  Bellemare  de  Saint-Cyr,  born  1749;  captain  1780; 
commandant  1782.  James  de  Longueville,  born;  captain  en  second,  1780; 


572  The  Army  of  Rochambeau 

commandant  1782.  De  Recusson,  born  1745;  captain  1780;  commandant 
1782.  De  Gratel  Dolomien  born;  captain  1780. 

First  lieutenants  (10} . — All  the  officers  of  this  rank  received  promo 
tions  to  captain  or  from  second  to  first  lieutenant  while  in  America. 

Second  lieutenants  (fo). — Many  of  these  under  officers  received  promo 
tions  to  first  lieutenants  while  in  America. 

Ensigns  (sous  lieutenants,  22}. — Many  of  these  younger  officers,  mostly 
from  18  to  22  years  of  age,  were  promoted  to  lieutenant.  Dupont  D'Au- 
bevoye  de  lyauberdiere,  aid-de-camp  to  ROCHAMBEAU,  was  rewarded  for 
good  conduct  at  Yorktown.  De  lyongueville  de  James  (wounded)  at  York- 
town.  Des  Brieres,  born  1738,  captain  March  12,  1780;  Chevalier  St.  Louis, 
December  5,  1781,  for  Yorktown.  De  la  Vergue  du  Tressan,  born  1755; 
transferred  from  Regiment  Beauvais  to  that  of  Saintonge  1778.  De  Trion 
de  Montalembert,  but  12  years  of  age;  marcou  grenadier  of  Regiment 
Saintonge,  made  the  whole  campaign;  wa3  wounded  on  the  frigate  Zele  in 
boarding  the  captured  English  frigate,  Romulus,  and  received  the  prize. 

Companies  (named  after  their  captains} 

Rank  and  file 

Grenadiers,  de  Beaumont,  captain 160 

De  Wouves 121 

Duchesne 1 18 

De  la  Corbiere 125 

De  Bedee 122 

Des  Forets ., 122 

Baron  de  Ferrette 122 

De  la  Folnere '. 123 

Lefebre  de  la  Falne"re 120 

Chasseurs,  de  Brie,  captain 124 

Total  rank  and  file i,  257 

Field  and  staff 5 

Captains 18 

First  lieutenants 10 

Second  lieutenants 10 

Ensigns 22 

Total  officers  and  men I,  322 

REGIMENT  DE  ROYAL  DEUX-PONTS 

The  first  colonel  of  this  regiment  was  the  Duke  de  Deux-Ponts  (Chris 
tian),  1757. 

The  regiment  was  raised  by  the  Duke  de  Deux-Ponts  under  a  commission 
of  April  i,  1757.  It  was  first  called  Regiment  Palatinat,  belonging  to  the 
Prince  Palatine  Deux-Ponts  (Zweibriicken). 


The  Army  of  Rocha mbeau  573 

It  was  reduced  to  two  battalions  December  21,  1762,  when  serving  in 
Germany,  where  on  October  10  it  garrisoned  Wolfenbuttel.  It  was  at 
Dunkirk  in  1774;  Metz,  1778;  at  Montivilliers  and  Harfleur,  May,  1779; 
at  Landerneau,  at  Saint  Pol  de  Leon  in  December,  1779,  and  embarked 
on  the  Eveille  at  Brest  in  April,  1780,  for  America,  being  one  of  the  four 
regiments  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  led  to  the  United  States. 

The  Royal  Deux-Ponts  greatly  distinguished  itself  in  October,  1781,  at 
the  siege  of  Yorktown,  especially  the  400  men  led  by  Guillaume  Deux- 
Ponts  in  the  attack  on  the  British  redoubts  October  15,  in  cooperation  with 
a  similar  movement  by  Lafayette  on  the  right,  and  where  it  rivaled  in  valor 
with  the  Gatinais  (Royal  Auvergne).  It  formed  the  center  of  the  column 
of  attack,  the  Gatinais,  in  the  van,  commanded  by  Estrade,  and  rear  by 
Rostaing. 

It  was  the  colonel  commandant,  Comte  de  Forbach  Royal  Deux-Ponts, 
who,  in  the  assault,  had  the  glory  to  be  the  first  to  penetrate  the  intrench- 
ments  of  the  English.  After  reaching  the  top  of  the  parapet  he  extended 
his  hand  to  a  grenadier  in  order  to  assist  him  to  mount  the  works.  This 
grenadier  fell  at  his  feet,  mortally  wounded.  The  colonel  extended  his 
hand  to  another  with  the  greatest  composure.  This  brave  officer,  who  had 
been  slightly  wounded,  after  the  surrender  arrived  at  Brest  on  the  frigate 
Andromaque,  charged  by  the  American  Congress  to  bear  as  homage  to 
the  King  some  of  the  flags  taken  from  the  army  of  Lord  Cornwallis. 

He  was  the  nephew  of  the  Duke  de  Deux-Ponts.  He  afterwards  took 
the  title  Marquis  de  Deux-Ponts. 

The  regiment  Royal  Deux-Ponts  returned  to  Europe  in  July,  1783.  In 
1791  it  became  the  Ninety-ninth  Regiment  of  Infantry,  with  headquarters 
at  Bourgogne  and  Lyons. 

REGIMENTAL   ORGANIZATION 

The  exact  strength  of  this  regiment  in  numbers  is  not  known,  as  the 
muster  rolls  of  the  companies  are  not  given.  It  consisted,  doubtless,  of 
the  regulation  10  companies,  grenadier  right  and  chasseur  left,  and  eight 
of  infantry. 

Colonel. — Le  Comte  de  Forbach  de  Deux-Ponts  (Christian),  born  at 
Deux-Ponts  in  1754. 

Colonel  en  second. — Le  Vicomte  de  Deux-Ponts  (Guillaume),  succeeded 
by  De  Fersen  in  1782. 

Lieutenant-colonels. — De  Haden;  Le  Baron  d'Esebeck,  born  Deux- 
Ponts,  1740. 

Major. — De  Prez,  born  1730. 

Paym  aster.  — An  ciaux . 

Companies,  captains  commandant  (so). — Le  Baron  de  Furstenwaerther, 
Le  Baron  Wisch,  De  Klock,  De  Flad,  De  Thuillieres,  De  Sunnahl,  De  Stack, 
Du  Hainault,  Ruhle  de  Lilienstern,  Charles  de  Cabannes,  born  1742. 


574  The  Army  of  Rochambeait 

En  second  (5).— Max  de  Cabannes,  Le  Baron  de  Haacke,  De  Fircks,  Le 
Baron  D'Esebeck,  De  Muhlenfels,  De  Ludwig,  Le  Baron  de  Johann,  Le 
Chevalier  de  Haacke,  Le  Baron  de  Closen. 

First  lieutenants  (7). — Among  them  Le  Baron  de  Kalb,  son  of  the  gen 
eral  of  this  name. 

Lieutenants  en  second  ( 10 ).—  Among  them  Barons  de  Rathsamhausen, 
De  Guntzer,  and  Galatin. 

Ensigns,  21. 

Rank  and  file,  approximately i,  100 

Field  and  staff 6 

Captains 10 

Captains  en  second , 9 

First  lieutenants 7 

Second  lieutenants 10 

Ensigns 21 

Field,  line,  and  total  rank  and  file i,  163 

REGIMENT  D'AUXONNE 
[Second  battalion] 

The  Regiment  d'Auxonne  from  the  Invalid  Brigade  of  the  Royal  Corps, 
by  virtue  of  the  ordinance  of  August  13,  1765,  had  for  its  first  colonel 
Philippe  Louis  de  Verton  de  Richeval  and  the  last  Francois  Braive,  who 
became  general  of  brigade. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  American  war  the  Second  Battalion  em 
barked  at  Brest  with  the  army  of  ROCHAMBEAU  and  returned  to  France 
in  1783,  with  its  headquarters  at  Nice. 

REGIMENTAL   ORGANIZATION 

The  following  constituted  the  field  and  line  personnel: 

Lieutenant-colonel. — Goulet  de  la  Tour  (Jean  Pierre),  born  at  Metz,  1730. 

Rank  of  lieutenant-colonel. — De  Nadal  (Antoine  Xavier),  born  1733,  at 
Colmarz;  Cuirol  de  Laziers  (Guillaume),  born  1729,  at  Mirepoix;  Le 
Chevalier  de  Buzelet  (Jacques  Nicolas  Catherine),  born  1740,  at  Metz;  De 
Capriol  de  Saint-Hilaire,  born  1722,  at  Pechaudier. 

Captains  (18). — De  Boisloge,  born  1736;  De  Morcourt  de  Foy,  born 
1740;  De  Neurisse,  born  1736;  De  Rumigny,  born  1738;  Olivier  D'Hemery, 
born  1742;  Josserand,  born  1736;  Dupuy,  born  1745  (all  captains  of  can 
noneers);  Garret  de  Maisonneuve,  born  1743;  Bon  nay  de  la  Rouvrelle, 
born  1743  (both  bombardiers);  De  Monginol  de  Noncourt,  born  1746,  died 
at  Newport,  October,  1779;  Du  Saussay  de  Greville,  born  1743;  Barthe- 
lemy,  of  sappers,  born  1744;  Boivin  dela  Martini£re,  born  1745;  De  Jume- 
cort,  born  1749;  De  Rouyer,  born  1748;  Daubert,  born  1747;  Pelotte  de  la 
Barolliere,  born  1749;  Decremilles,  born  1754. 

Lieutenants  (23}.— De  Sance,  killed  at  Savannah,  September  25,  1779. 

Captains  and  lieutenants. — Not  assigned  (17). 


The  Army  of  Rochambeau  575 

Companies  (taking  the  names  of  their  captains'] 

Company:  Rank  and  file 

De  Boislege,  Chevalier 103 

De  Morcoart  de  Foy 57 

Du  Rumigny 60 

Ollivier  d'Hemefy 54 

Josserand 51 

Dupuy,  Chevalier 60 

Garret  de  Maisonneuve 53 

Bonnay  de  la  Rouvrelle 56 

Barthelmy 54 


548 
Field  officers: 

Line  officers 5 

Captains 18 

Lieutenants 23 

Unassigned 7 


Total 601 

• 
REGIMENT  DE  METZ  ;    - 

[Second  battalion] 

The  regiment  of  Metz  was  formed  from  the  honorable  brigade  of  the 
Royal  Corps  of  Artillery  under  an  ordinance  of  1765.  Its  first  colonel  was 
Ge'de'on  le  Duchat.  Mathieu  (Alexis)  was  its  last. 

In  1777  the  entire  second  battalion  was- sent  to  the  West  Indies.  Two 
of  the  first  ten  companies  took  their  initial  tour  of  service  in  America 
April,  1780,  and  two  others  followed  in  1781. 

This  corps  had  six  companies  in  the  army  of  ROCHAMBEAU,  four  of 
which  formed  part  of  his  original  force  in  1780,  and  two  having  joined 
him  in  1781.  The  others  were  stationed  in  Santo  Domingo  and  different 
isles  of  the  Antilles.  What  remained  of  these  companies  returned  to 
France  and  became  the  Nineteenth  Regiment  of  Artillery,  with  headquar 
ters  at  Nimes. 

REGIMENTAL,   ORGANIZATION 

The  following  constitute  the  field  and  line : 

Lieutenant-colonel. — Le  Chevalier  de  Gimel  (Pierre),  born  1728  at 
Rudeil. 

Chiefs  of  brigade. — Le  Chevalier  Sain't-Michel  de  Missolz  (Jacques), 
born  1724  at  Annonay  (Vivarais);  Le  Barre  de  Carroy  (Charles  Joseph 
Abel),  born  1733,  at  Paris. 

Captains,  commandant  and  by  commission  (12). — Durand,  born  1761; 
Rotalier,  born  1738;  Tordy  de  Montravel,  born  1744;  Le  Febvre  de  Vul- 
mont,  born  1741;  Pelletier  de  Glatigny,  born  1746;  Dupay,  born  1743; 


576  The  Army  of  Rochambeau 

Pelletier  d'Orgens,  of  sappers,  born  1749;   Maugin  Douence,  born  1746; 
De  Watry  Ollivier,  born  1746;  DeDouay,  born  1751;  Durand  de  Gevigney, 
born  1750,  the  last  five  captains  by  commission. 
Lieutenants,  22;  unassigned,  12. 

Companies  (named,  respectively,  for  their  captains} 

Company:  Rank  and  file 

Durand 29 

De  Missolz 36 

Rotalier , 30 

Tardy  de  Montravel 34 

De  Vulmont 31 

Pelletier  de  Glatigny 32 

Dupuy , 30 

Pelletier  d'Orgens .' 30 

Douence 28 

De  Watry 22 

Total  rank  and  file 302 

Field  officers: 

Line  officers : 3 

Captains 12 

Lieutenants 22 

Unassigned ' 12 


Total  field,  line,  rank  and  file 351 

LEGION  DE  LAUZUN,  LANCERS  AND  HUSSARS 

[lyancers  (2  companies):  Officers,  10;  men,  300;  total,  310.     Hussars  (2  companies): 
Officers,  10;  men,  300;  total,  310] 

These  served  in  all  the  campaigns  of  ROCHAMBEAU. 

GRENOBLE   REGIMENT    ( I  COMPANY) 

The  Company  Savournin  was  detached  for  service  with  ROCHAMBEAU  in 
the  United  States,  1780-81. 

Captain. — Savournin.    Second  company  of  Regiment  Grenoble  detached 
to  join  ROCHAMBEAU  in  America: 

Savournin  (sappers  and  miners,  rank  and  file) 60 

Line  officers: 

Captain I 

Lieutenants,  first  and  second 4 

Line,  rank  and  file 65 

It  is  estimated  upward  of  2,500  reenforcements  in  the  form  of  recruits 

were  sent  to  the  French  regiments  during  their  operations  in  America. 

These  came  largely  from  the  Regiments  De  Neustrie  and  d'Anhalt. 

The  miners  company  of  Dupsuch,  captain  in  premier,  came  over  in  1780. 
The  company  which  remained  was  sent  over;  also  the  company  of  Le 

Cheze. 


THE  ARMY  OF  SAINT-  SIMON  (DE  GRASSE'S  FLEET) 


REGIMENT  D'AGENOIS 

The  first  colonel  of  this  regiment  was  Marquis  de  Crillon,  1776. 

Third,  Comte  d'Autichamp,  1779. 

The  First  and  Second  Battalions  were  in  the  West  Indies  in  1778-1783. 
A  part  of  the  regiment  embarked  on  the  squadron  of  Count  d'Estaing  and 
participated  in  the  siege  of  Savannah.  Lieutenant  Blandat  was  killed  in 
a  sortie  of  September  27.  On  October  9,  in  the  unsuccessful  attack  on 
the  intrenchments,  Captain  du  Barry  and  three  subalterns  were  wounded. 

In  1781  the  regiment  was  united  and  embarked  on  the  squadron  of 
Comte  de  Grasse  to  reenforce  the  army  under  Comte  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  on 
the  American  continent.  It  arrived  August  15  with  the  Gatinais  and 
Touraine  in  Chesapeake  Bay  at  the  moment  General  Cornwallis  was 
driven  into  Yorktown  by  Marquis  de  Lafayette  and  soon  after  surrounded 
by  Washington  and  ROCHAMBEAU.  The  Marquis  Saint-Simon  had  com 
mand  of  the  reenforcements  which  debarked  September  2  in  James  River 
and  arrived  at  Williamsburg  on  the  4th,  4  leagues  from  Yorktown,  where 
they  formed  a  junction  with  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  who  commanded  a 
corps  of  Americans. 

On  October  3  two  companies  of  grenadiers  and  chasseurs  d'Age"nois 
attacked  the  English  pickets,  forcing  them  back  upon  their  defenses. 
The  trenches  were  opened  on  the  evenii/g  of  the  6th.  On  the  I5th 
Age*nois  repulsed  a  sortie,  and  on  the  igth  Lord  Cornwallis  capitulated. 

The  regiment  reembarked  November  5  and  returned  to  Martinique. 

It  will  be  interesting  to  know  part  of  the  Age"nois  in  the  closing  days  of 
1781  took  passage  on  the  vessels  of  Count  de  Grasse  and  contributed  to  the 
capture  of  Briston  Hill,  February  12,  1782,  where  it  captured  the  Royal 
Scotch,  formerly  Douglas  Regiment,  which  had  retired  from  the  service  of 
France  in  1768. 

In  1791  d'Agenois  became  the  Sixteenth  Infantry  of  France,  with  head 
quarters  at  Montbuson  and  St.  Etienne. 

S.  Doc.  537,  59-1  -  37  577 


578  The  Army  of  Saint- Simon 

REGIMENTAL   ORGANIZATION 

The  following  represents  the  field  and  line  officers  commandant  and 
distinction  won  by  them  in  service  in  America: 

Colonels. — L,e  Baron  Cadignan  (Charles  Dupleux),  born  January  28,  1738; 
died  June  22,  1779,  at  Santo  Domingo.  1/e  Comte  de  Beaumont  D'Auti- 
champ  (Antoine  Joseph  Eulalie),  born  December  10,  1744,  at  Angers. 

Colonels  en  second. — L,e  Comte  de  Crillon  (I/ouis  Alexandre  Pierre 
Nolasque),  born  December  n,  1744,  at  Paris.  L,e  Chevalier  Dulau  D'Alle- 
mans  (Pierre  Marie),  born  at  Champiers 

Lieutenant-colonels. — Rayne  de  Cantis  (Joseph),  born  March  15,  1718,  at 
Marmard.  L,e  Chevalier  De  Cadignan  (Jean  Baptiste  Gerard  Dupleux), 
born  May  22,  1738,  at  Condom. 

Majors. — Picault  Desdorides  (Jean  Francois  Louis);  L,e  Chevalier  de 
Sagnararigue  (Jean  Baptiste),  born  October  30,  1742,  at  Perpignan;  died 
1781  at  Santo  Domingo. 

Paymaster. — De  Barras  (Jean  Gerlain),  born  1740  at  San  Antoine 
(Dauphine). 

Captains  and  en  second  (18). — Sequier  de  Treson  de  Lustrac,  distin 
guished  at  Yorktown;  De  Behagle;  I/a  Roche  Coquet;  Richard  de  Lepes, 
died  March  7,  1782,  of  wounds  received  at  the  siege  of  St.  Christopher; 
Chevalier  de  Saint-Germaine;  D'Augussin  de  Bourguisson;  Chevalier 
D'Ypres,  died  June  15,  1780;  D'Lambert  Du  Barry,  pension  in  considera 
tion  of  a  wound  at  Savannah;  Chevalier  de  Dianous;  Des  Mareetz;  De 
Marans;  De  Caire;  De  la  Corbiere,  chevalier  of  St.  Louis,  December  5, 
1781,  for  Yorktown;  L,e  Saige  de  Villebrine;  DeSoyres;  DeCaumont;  De 
Faydeau. 

Lieutenants ,  first  and  second  (20}. — Among  them  Blandet,  killed  at  Sa 
vannah,  September  27,  1779;  Broulhet  de  Sigalas,  wounded  at  Yorktown, 
1781;  De  Kamarec  de  Troron,  distinguished  at  Yorktown;  Pocquet  de 
Paylery  de  Saint-Sauveur,  wounded  at  Savannah,  where  he  distinguished 
himself,  and  was  wounded  at  Yorktown;  D'Houdetot  de  Colomby,  wounded 
at  Yorktown  and  mentioned  for  good  conduct;  L,e  Houx  went  to  America  in 
1755  and  took  part  in  all  the  campaigns;  Pignol  de  Rocreuse  received  a 
commission  for  having  by  his  courage  and  resolution  saved  168  men  out 
of  200,  which  he  commanded  on  the  vessel  Le  Trois  Henriettes  in  a  storm 
on  the  Antioches  near  Oleron  on  the  way  to  America,  May,  1779. 

Ensigns  (/p). — These  under  officers  from  19  years  and  upward  of  age 
exhibited  all  the  traits  of  valor  which  had  ever  been  the  fame  of  the  arms 
of  France.  Berard  de  Mauriage  had  his  left  leg  broken  in  the  .affair  at 
Savannah,  October  9,  1780,  was  left  on  the  field  of  battle  and  for  four 
months  was  prisoner  of  war  in  the  hospital  of  the  enemy;  Gouzie  men 
tioned  for  good  conduct  at  Yorktown;  De  Montlong  mentioned  for  gal 
lantry  at  Yorktown;  Prevost  made  all  the  campaigns  in  America  from 
1776  to  1783;  De  Laumont  wounded  at  Yorktown  1781. 


The  Army  of  Saint- Simon  579 

Companies  (/o). — The  rolls  of  the  companies  of  this  regiment  are  not  at 
hand.  The  regiment  doubtless  maintained  the  average  of  its  companions 
in  arms,  the  entire  regiment  having  united,  forming  part  of  the  reenforce- 
ments  for  ROCHAMBEAU  under  De  Grasse  and  Saint-Simon: 

Rank  and  file I,  100 

Field  officers  and  staff 9 

Captains 18 

Lieutenants 20 

Knsigns 19 


Total  field,  line,  rank  and  file T,  166 

REGIMENT  DE  GATINAIS    . 
[Royal  Auvergne] 

Under  an  ordinance  of  March  25,  1776,  the  Regiment  d' Auvergne  was 
divided  into  two  parts — the  first  and  third  battalions  being  retained  at 
Auvergne,  the  second  and  fourth  forming  the  Regiment  Gatinais.  It  was 
the  latter  which  in  1781  received  the  name  of  Royal  d' Auvergne. 

The  first  colonel  of  this  regiment  was  le  Marquis  de  Caupenne  (Louis 
Henri),  1776.  The  third,  le  Marquis  de  Rostaing  (Jean  Antoine  Marie 
Germain),  1778.  Le  Comte  de  ROCHAMBEAU  (Donatien),  1783. 

In  order  to  distinguish  the  Auvergne,  Gatinais  took  the  yellow  collar 
and  white  buttons.  Its  flag  was  black  and  violet.  These  colors  were  dis 
posed  as  in  the  flag  of  the  Regiment  d'Auxerrois. 

The  second  battalion,  which  was  at  Martinique  from  November  20,  1775, 
went  in  1777  to  Santo  Domingo.  The  first  battalion,  which  had  gone  to 
Calais  in  June,  1776,  left  toward  the  end  of  that  year  for  Bordeaux,  where 
it  embarked  September  25,  1777,  to  rejoin  the  second  battalion.  The 
regiment  remained  in  garrison  at  the  cape  until  1779.  In  that  year  it 
was  put  on  board  the  squadron  of  Count  d'Estaing  and  from  September 
15  to  October  20  was  at  the  siege  of  Savannah.  The  company  of  chasseurs 
covered  itself  with  glory  on  October  9  in  the  attack  on  the  intrenchments. 
They  had  taken  for  their  watchword  and  rallying  shout  "Auvergne  and 
d'Assas."  Ensign  Levert  entered  the  intrenchments  first.  The  defend 
ers,  astonished  by  so  much  daring,  took  to  flight,  throwing  away  their 
arms.  The  English,  however,  returned  at  once  in  greater  numbers.  The 
brave  companies  being  without  support,  and  having  lost  half  their  effective 
strength,  were  obliged  to  retire,  yet  did  so  in  good  order,  carrying  with 
them  their  dead  and  wounded,  among  whom  were  the  Vicomte  de  Bethizy, 
colonel  en  second,  Captains  Sireuil  and  De  Foucault,  Lieutenant  Just 
Chevalier  de  la  Roche  Negly,  and  Chevalier  de  Tourvelle.  Ensign  Levert 
had  his  clothes  riddled  with  balls. 


580  The  Army  of  Saint- Simon 

At  the  raising  of  the  siege,  Gatinais  returned  to  the  cape.  In  1781  it 
formed  part  of  the  corps  which  Marquis  Saint-Simon  led  to  the  United 
States  to  reenforce  the  army  of  ROCHAMBEAU. 

It  took  a  glorious  part  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  and  at  the  capitulation 
of  Cornwallis,  October  14,  with  the  Royal  Deux-Ponts,  and  under  the 
orders  of  Lieutenant-colonel  de  L,estrade  it  attacked  with  great  bravery 
and  carried  with  spirit  all  the  redoubts  on  the  left  of  the  intrenchments. 
Captain  of  chasseurs,  De  Sireuil,  was  again  wounded,  this  time  seriously, 
with  two  other  officers. 

After  the  victory,  Washington,  in  expressing  his  recognition  and  admi 
ration  to  the  French  generals,  begged  them  to  offer  in  his  name  to  the 
regiments  Gatinais  and  Royal  Deux-Ponts  the  three  pieces  of  cannon 
which  they  had  takey.  The  Gatinais  reembarked  with  the  rest  of  the 
command  and  returned  to  Santo  Domingo. 

An  ordinance  of  July  n,  1782,  changed  the  name  of  the  regiment  and 
gave  it  in  recompense  for  its  excellent  conduct  in  America  the  title  Royal 
Auvergne. 

This  favor  was  accorded  to  the  regiment  upon  the  request  of  Count  DE 
ROCHAMBEAU,  who  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown  at  the  moment  of  a  decisive 
attack,  addressing  the  Grenadiers  de  Gatinais  said,  "  Children,  show  that 
Gatinais  and  Auvergne  are  one."  The  grenadiers  swore  to  do  to  the  death 
in  order  to  merit  the  return  of  their  title  Auvergne. 

In  1791  the  Royal  Auvergne  became  the  Eighteenth  Infantry  with  head 
quarters  at  Pau. 

REGIMENTAI,   ORGANIZATION 

The  following  represents  the  field  and  company  organizations,  with  the 
names  of  the  commanding  officers  and  distinctions  won  in  America: 

Colonel — Ive  Marquis  de  Rostaing  (Just  Antoine  Henry  Marie  Germain), 
brigadier-general,  December  5,  1781,  for  gallantry  in  the  capture  of 
Yorktown. 

Colonel  en  second. — Le  Vicomte  de  Bethisby  (Jacques  Eleanor)  born 
December  4,  1748  at  Calais;  severely  wounded  at  Savannah  in  1779. 

Lieutenant-colonel.  — D€  1'Estrade  (Claud) ,  born  at  Puy  (Velay),  Aprils, 
1730;  brigadier  December  5,  1781,  for  gallantry  displayed  at  Yorktown,  Va. 

Major. — Chapuis  de Tourville  (Charles  Bertin  Gaston)  born  at  Hettange 
la  Grande,  January  4,  1740;  rendered  efficient  service  in  America,  where  he 
performed  for  nearly  a  year  the  functions  of  major-general. 

Paymaster. — Vaudrime  (Francois),  born  at  Avauchoux,  September  7, 
1735;  rank  of  captain  November  16,  1783. 

Captains  (24}. — DeLalbengue,  born  1730;  made  prisoner  April  12,  1782, 
on  Z,' Hector.  De  Rouverie  de  Cabrieres,  born  1741;  received  the  cross  of 
chevalier  of  St.  Louis  for  good  conduct  at  Yorktown.  De  Vachon,  born 
1742;  received  the  cross  of  chevalier  of  St.  Louis  December  5,  1781,  for 


The  Army  of  Saint-Simon  581 

participation  in  the  capture  of  Yorktown.  De  Chaumont,  born  1740; 
retired  1781.  DeSireuil,  born  1742;  wounded  at  Savannah  and  Yorktown; 
died  in  the  hospital  at  Williamsburg,  December  20,  1781,  on  account  of 
wounds.  Dudrot,  born  January  16,  1743,  chevalier  of  St.  Louis,  December 
5,  1781,  for  the  taking  of  Yorktown.  Domerque  de  St.  Florent,  born  1742; 
chevalier  of  St.  Louis  December  5,  1781,  for  good  conduct  at  Yorktown. 
La  Borde  dePecomme,  born  1743;  chevalier  of  St.  Louis  December  5,  1781, 
for  the  capture  of  Yorktown.  De  Langdon,  born  1737;  chevalier  of  St. 
Louis  December  5,  1781,  for  good  conduct  at  Yorktown.  De  Cussot,  Le 
Muet  de  Belombre  de  Jussy,  born  1744;  died  November  15,  1781.  De 
Foucault,  born  1741;  wounded  at  Savannah.  De  Belcostel,  born  1745; 
died  at  Santo  Domingo,  January  7,  1780.  De  Bordenave,  born  1742; 
chevalier  of  St.  Louis  December  5,  1781,  for  Yorktown.  De  Villelongue 
de  Saint-Morel,  born  1748.  D'Assas,  born  1749.  De  Mascaron,  born 
1744;  mentioned  for  good  conduct  at  Yorktown.  De  Molieres,  born  1749; 
mentioned  for  good  conduct  at  Yorktown.  Carrere  de  Loubere,  born  1750; 
good  conduct  at  Yorktown.  De  Villeneuve  de  Berth elot,  born  1750,  died 
1781  of  wounds  received  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown.  De  Fontbonne,  Cha- 
lendor,  born  1757;  good  conduct  at  Yorktown;  taken  prisoner  in  the  action 
of  April  12,  1782,  on  Le  Caton.  De  la  Morre  de  Ville  aux  Bois,  born  1757. 
De  la  Rochenegly,  born  1757;  wounded  at  Savannah;  taken  prisoner  in 
the  action  of  April  12,  1782,  on  Le  Caton. 

Lieutenants  (22}. — Nearly  all  these  officers  received  promotion  during 
their  service  in  America.  De  Chabot  was  killed  September  30,  1780,  on 
the  merchant  frigate  L' Esperance  de  Bordeaux,  on  returning  to  France. 
De  la  Fabregue,  mentioned  for  meritorious  conduct  at  Yorktown.  Terrade, 
mentioned  for  good  conduct  at  Yorktown.  Levert  de  Grenville,  men 
tioned  for  good  conduct  at  Yorktown;  taken  prisoner  in  the  action  of 
April  12,  1782,  on  V Hector.  De  la  Roche  Negly^  wounded  at  Savannah; 
taken  prisoner  in  the  action  of  April  12,  1782,  on  Le  Caton.  La  Pierre, 
good  conduct  at  Yorktown.  Chapuis  de  Tourville,  received  a  musket 
blow  in  crossing  the  breastworks  at  Savannah.  De  Durat,  taken  prisoner 
in  the  action  of  April  12,  1782,  on  L' Hector.  Desillegue,  wounded  at 
Yorktown,  1781.  De  Naveret  de  Caxon,  taken  prisoner  in  the  engage 
ment  of  April  12,  1782,  on  L'Hector.  De  Caignet,  taken  prisoner  in 
action  April  12,  1782,  on  Le  Caton.  De  Leonardy,  good  conduct  at 
Yorktown. 

Ensigns  (12}. — Many  were  promoted  in  America.  Bonot  was  men 
tioned  for  good  conduct  at  Yorktown;  De  Barnaud  de  Villeneuve  was 
taken  prisoner  in  action  April  12,  1782,  on  Z,' 'Ardent. 


582  The  Army  of  Saint-Simon 

Companies  (named  after  their  captains} 
Company :  Rank  and  file 

Grenadiers  Pe"comme,  captain 107 

Cabrieres N in 

Dudrot .' 1 15 

L,angdon 114 

Lalbengue 114 

Chasseurs  de  Sireuil,  captain 112 

Vacheron . 86 

St.  Florent 59 

De  Coussol 80 

De  Chaumont  . .  100 


Total  rank  and  file 998 

Field  officers 5 

Line  officers: 

Captains 24 

Lieutenants 22 

Ensigns 12 


Total  field,  line,  rank  and  file I,  061 

REGIMENT  DE  TOURAINE 

The  first  colonel  of  this  regiment  was  Baron  du  Plessis-Joigny  (Timoleon 
de  Congressan),  1625. 

It  was  reorganized  1775  after  having  been  separated  into  two  regiments, 
one  preserving  the  name  and  flags  of  Touraine  and  the  other  took  the  title 
of  Savoie-Carignan. 

The  first  colonel  of  the  new  Regiment  Touraine  was  the  Marquis  de 
I/aval  (Anne  Alexander  Marie  Sulpice  Joseph  de  Montmorencie),  1775. 
His  successors  were: 

The  third  L/e  Vicomte  de  Poudens  (Henri  Francois  Liamao)  April  13, 
1780. 

In  1779  this  regiment  fought  at  Savannah  under  D'Estaing;  in  August, 
1781,  with  Age"nois  and  Gatinais  it  embarked  on  the  fleet  of  Comte  de 
Grasse  to  reenforce  the  army  of  ROCHAMBEAU  around  Yorktown.  The 
Marquis  de  Saint-Simon  commanded  the  reenforcements. 

It  arrived  August  15  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  took  part  in  the  siege  of 
Yorktown.  After  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  it  returned  to  the  Antilles 
(Martinique). 

After  a  brief  sojourn  in  Martinique,  it  reembarked  on  the  fleet  of  Count 
de  Grasse  and  arrived  January  n,  1782,  off  the  island  of  St.  Christopher, 
and  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Bristone  Hill.  The  Regiment  Touraine 
returned  to  France  in  1783.  It  became  the  Thirty-third  Infantry  in  1791 
with  headquarters  at  Arras. 


The  Army  of  Saint- Simon  583 

REGIMENTAL,   ORGANIZATION 

The  following  represents  the  field  and  company  organizations  with  the 
names  and  American  distinctions  of  the  officers  commanding: 

Colonel. — Le  Vicomte  de  Poudenx  (Henry  Francois  Liamart),  born  in 
Paris,  August  I,  1748;  December  5,  1781,  received  a  letter  of  commenda 
tion  for  good  conduct  at  Yorktown. 

Colonels  en  second. — Le  Comte  de  Flechin  de  Vamin  (Charles  Fran£ois 
Joseph),  received  December  5,  1781,  a  letter  of  commendation  for  good 
conduct  at  Yorktown.  Le  Chevalier  de  Riquetti  de  Mirabeau  (Andre 
Boniface  Louis),  born  in  Paris,  November  13,  1754;  in  1780  he  figured  in 
the  actions  under  M.  de  Guichen  in  the  Antilles,  being  wounded. 

Lieutenant-colonel. — Du  Moulin  de  la  Bartelle  de  Montlezun  (Jean  Fran 
cois),  born  at  Aire  (Guienne)  June  14,  1729;  received  a  severe  contusion 
in  the  actions  of  April  9  and  12,  1782,  fought  by  Comte  de  Grasse. 

Major. — De  Menonville  (Louis  Antoine  Thebault),  received  a  pension 
on  account  of  services  at  Yorktown. 

Paymaster. — Reynaud  (Pierre),  born  at  Marseille,  April  31,  1731;  cap 
tain,  March  30,  1780. 

Captains  (20}. —La  Coste  de  la  Marque,  born  1733.  Paudin  de  Beaure- 
gard  de  Rommef.ort,  born  1740;  chevalier  of  St.  Louis,  June  24,  1780. 
Domergue  de  Beauregard,  born  1735.  De  Launay,  born  1739;  good  con 
duct  at  Yorktown.  Desbordes,  born  1736.  Chariot,  born  1736;  chevalier 
of  St.  Louis  Decembers,  1781,  for  good  conduct  at  Yorktown.  Savary, 
born  1738;  died  1782.  Ducasse,  born  1736;  chevalier  of  St.  Louis  Septem 
ber  15,  1782.  De  Tardivy  de  Thonene,  born  1743.  Galtier  D'Alose, 
captain  commandant,  May  22,  1780.  Santes  Despenant,  born  1745.  De 
Morey  de  Signy,  born  1750;  perished  in  1780  on  merchantman  Le  Phenix 
from  Havre.  Clamouze,  born  1752;  died  1780.  Raynault  de  Passeplane, 
born  1752;  captain  commandant,  November  12,  1782.  Normanden,  born 
1730;  died  April  2,  1780.  Aron  de  Rebourquil,  born  1749;  on  December 
5,  1781  received  promise  of  a  majorship  of  infantry  on  account  of  zeal  and 
ability  particularly  displayed  at  Yorktown.  De  Bedos  de  Campan,  born 
1753;  captain  commandant  1783.  De  Vezsan,  born  1753;  died  1780  on  the 
frigate  Du  Roy.  Vijan  Ariol  de  Baudreuil,  1751.  De  Bonne,  born  1750. 

Lieutenants  (14). — With  one  or  two  exceptions  all  these  officers  received 
promotions  during  their  service  in  America. 

Ensigns  (/£). — All  these  officers  received  promotions  during  their 
service  in  America;  Francois  a  retired  pension  April  4,  1781. 


584  The  Army  of  Saint-Simon 

Companies  (named,  respectively -,'  after  their  captains} 

Company :                                                                                                  Rank  and  file 

De  La  Coste 128 

De  Thorenc 123 

De  Savery T ...  126 

De  Rommefort 122 

Ducasse 123 

Grenadiers  de  Launay,  captain 124 

De  Beauregard 122 

Chariot 121 

Desbordes « 125 

Chasseurs,  D' Artel  de  Viensberg,  captain 125 

Total  field  and  rank i,  239 

Field  officers  and  staff 6 

Line  officers: 

Captains  commandant  and  en  second  . . .  .^ 20 

Lieutenants,  first  and  second "       14 

Ensigns 18 

Total  field,  line,  rank  and  file i,  297 


LAND  ARMY  OF  D'ESTAING  IN  ADDITION  TO  REGI 
MENTS  AGENOIS,  GATINAIS,  AND  TOURAINE 

REGIMENT  D'HAINAULT 

[One  battalion] 

This  regiment  was  raised  by  virtue  of  a  commission  issued  1651  in  the 
name  of  Vendome.  It  took  the  name  of  the  province  of  Hainault  in  1762, 
and  became  the  Fiftieth  Regiment  of  Infantry  1793. 

The  first  colonel  was  Cesar  Due  de  Vendome. 

A  battalion  of  D' Hainault  embarked  on  the  squadron  of  Comte  d'Estaing 
in  1779,  and  distinguished  itself  at  the  taking  of  Grenada  in  that  year. 
On  July  6,  same  year,  it  participated  in  the  naval  combat  with  the  English" 
Admiral  Byron,  and  took  part  in  the  month  of  October  following  in  the 
siege  of  Savannah,  returning  to  Martinique,  after  raising  the  siege,  and 
remained  there  until  the  peace.  As  the  Fiftieth  Regiment  of  Infantry  it 
had  its  headquarters  at  Perigueux. 

BATTALION   ORGANIZATION 

The  following  represents  the  field  and  company  organization  with  the 
names  and  American  distinctions  of  officers: 

Lieutenant-colonel. — Laplin  (Jean  Baptiste)  performed  the  functions  of 
lieutenant-colonel;  born  June  24,  1734,  at  Moulins  (Bourbonnais);  danger 
ously  wounded  July  4,  1779,  at  the  capture  of  Grenada;  died  January  28, 
1780. 

Captains  (6). — Deschamps  de  Villaine,  born  1733;  Lombard  et  Roque 
fort,  born  1735;  De  Mareuil,  born  1733;  De  Manoel,  born  1740;  De  Monoel 
la  Graverie  de  Vegobre,  born  1746;  D'Artus  served  through  the  entire  war 
in  America. 

Lieutenants  (5). — Monterno  du  Chatelard  des  Brets,  wounded  at  Savan 
nah;  Marmier,  killed  September  i,  1781,  on  the  frigate  La  Magicienne  in 
the  action  in  which  she  was  captured  by  the  English. 

Ensign,  2. 

Companies  (named,  respectively,  <after  their  captains'] 
Company:  Rank  and  file 

Des  Champs 126 

Lombard 125 

Mareuil . 1 23 

De  Manoel , 123 

Total  rank  and  file 497 

585 


586  Land  Army  of  D*  Estaing. 


Field  officers 

Line  officers: 

Captains 

Lieutenants 

Knsigns 


REGIMENT  DE  FOIX 
[One  battalion] 

The  Regiment  Foix  (infantry)  was  created  1684,  the  first  colonel  being 
Jules  Armand  Colbert,  Marquis  de  Blainville.  It  became  the  Eighty-third 
Infantry  in  1791. 

A  battalion  formed  of  detachments  of  sharpshooters  from  the  Regiment 
de  Foix  was  embarked  on  the  squadron  of  D'Estaing  in  1779  an(^  was 
engaged  in  the  naval  attack  July  6,  1779,  of  Admiral  Byron,  and  at  the 
siege  of  Savannah  in  the  month  of  September  following,  and  later  was  on 
board  Le  Magnanime,  in  the  affairs  of  gth  and  i2th  of  August,  1782, 
against  Admiral  Rodney.  The  battalion  returned  to  France  at  the  con 
clusion  of  peace. 

BATTALION   ORGANIZATION 

The  following  was  the  organization  of  this  corps  : 

Lieutenant-colonel.  —  Du  Chastelet  (Marie  Antoine),  born  1739,  at 
Boulogne-sur-Mer  (acting  lieutenant-colonel). 

Major.  —  De  Trenonnay  (Antoine),  born  February  14,  1735,  at  Voyron 
(Dauphine*)  (acting  major),  died  September  10,  1780. 

Captains  (4}.  —  Bernardy  de  Sigoyer,  born  1748;  Demorlon:  Seissan  de 
Marignan,  born  1750;  Dampie"rre  de  Milliancourt;  De  Biville,  born  1756. 

Lieutenants,  2;  ensigns,  3. 

Companies  (named,  respectively,  for  their  captains} 

Company:  Rank  and  file 

Grenadiers,  De  Sigoyer,  captain  ............................         98 

De  Biville  .................  .  ................................         90 

Demarignan  ................................................         91 

DampieVre  ..........................  .......................         67 

346 
Field  officers  ...................................................  2 

Line  officers  : 

Captains  ........................  ...........................  4 

Lieutenants  ................................................  2 

Ensigns  ....................................................  $ 


Total  field,  line,  rank  and  file  .............................       357 


Land  A rmy  of  D* Estaing  587 

REGIMENT  DE  DILLON 

[Officers  only] 

This  regiment  took  part  at  Savannah,  Ga.,  under  D'Estaing,  Septem 
ber-October,  1779.  It  belonged  to  one  of  the  famous  Irish  brigades  of  the 
French  army. 

Colonel. — Le  Comte  Dillon  (Arthur). 

Colonel  en  second. — Le  Chevalier  Dillon  (Theobald). 

Lieutenant-colonel. — Dillon  ( Barthelemy ) . 

Major. — O'Moran  (Jacques). 

Paymaster. — Moncarelly  ( Barthelemy) . 

Captains  (10} . — Moore  (Gerard),  Purdon,  Bancks,  Nugent,  Swigny, 
Shee,  Moore  (Guillaume),  O'Neill,  O'Berin,  Taaffe. 

Captains  en  second  (so). — The  entire  number  had  Irish  names  (some  of 
them  a  trifle  Frenchified)  as  Mandeville,  MacGuire,  Macdermot,  the  elder; 
O'Reilly;  Kelly;  Macdermot,  the  younger;  Noolan;  O'Doyer;  Lynck  and 
Coghlan.  Their  praenomens  also  belonged  to  the  nomenclature  of  the 
"Green  Isle,"  particularly  Dennis  and  "Terence." 

Lieutenants  (10} . — The  same  characteristic  is  found  throughout  the  en 
tire  number,  there  appearing  another  Dillon  and  O'Keeffe,  O'Farel,  and  a 
Duggan.  A  French  rendition  of  the  wholesome  orthography  of  the 
originals. 

Lieutenants  en  second  (/o). — In  this  list  we  find  two  O'Farrells,  Swigny 
(Sweeny)  and  all  the  others  of  Irish  nomenclature. 

Ensigns  (19}. — This  personnel  is  entirely  Irish  in  names,  notably  Mac- 
Closky,  MacSheehy,  Shee,  O'Reilly,  O'Meara,  Mahony,  Murphy,  with 
Christian  names  Patrick  and  Denis. 

Although  no  rosters  are  available,  the  organization  of  officers  represents 
the  field  and  units  of  a  full  regulation  regiment,  which  would  make  its 
strength  approximately — 

Rank  and  file i,  100 

Field  officers 5 

Line  officers: 

Captains 10 

Captains  en  second 10 

Lieutenants : 10 

Lieutenants  en  second 10 

Ensigns * 19 

Total  field,  line,  rank  and  file I,  164 


588  Land  Army  of  D* E siding 

REGIMENT  DE  WALJ5H 

[Officers  only] 

This  was  another  of  the  French-Irish  regimental  organizations  which 
served  with  D'Estaing  at  Savannah  in  1779. 
Colonel. — Thaddeus  O'Brien. 
Paymaster. — Charles  Bancelin. 

Captains  (6). — De  Fitzmauric,  Chevalier  de  Walsh;  O'Neil,  De  Nagle, 
O'Brien,  and  D'Orcy. 

Captains  en  second  (5). — Among  them  O'Croly  and  O'Connor,  the  latter 
chevalier. 

Lieutenants  (4}. — Among  them  Plunkett  and  O'Riordan. 
Lieutenants  en  second  (5). — Among  them  an  O'Gorman  and  a  Mac- 
Carthy. 

Ensigns  (/#)• — Among  them  O'Crowly,  O'Flynn,  and  O'Cahill. 

Rank  and  file,  approximately 500 

Field  and  staff 2 

Line  officers: 

Captains 6 

Captains  en  second 5 

Lieutenants 4 

Lieutenants  en  second 5 

Ensigns 10 

Total  field,  line,  rank  and  file 532 


IV.   THE  FRENCH  SOCIETY  OF  THE  CINCINNATI 


A  subject  which  agitated  the  political  alignments  of  both  countries  was 
the  historic  and  patriotic  Military  Order  of  the  Cincinnati.  The  excite 
ment  in  America  and  France  ran  high.  Pamphlets  pro  and  con  were 
numerous  and  acrimonious,  and  partisan  feeling  intense. 

The  subject  is  of  value  at  this  day  as  giving  an  inside  view  of  the  drift 
of  public  opinion  and  showing  the  special  affection  of  the  Bourbon  mon 
arch  toward  his  soldiers  who  had  served  in  America,  and  between  whom 
and  Washington,  ROCHAMBEAU  was  the  intermediary  and  spokesman. 

The  society,  as  the  records  show,  was  instituted  by  the  American  officers 
at  the  cantonments  of  the  Continental  Army,  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson 
River,  on  May  10,  1783,  "at  the  close  of  hostilities  in  the  war  of  the  Revo 
lution  for  American  independence." 

Its  object  "to  perpetuate  the  events  of  the  struggle  and  friendships 
formed  under  pressure  of  common  danger,  often  cemented  by  the  blood  of 
the  parties." 

The  right  to  original  membership,  so  far  as  concerned  the  allies,  in 
cluded— 

*  -x-  *  •*  * 

"All  French  officers  who  had  served  in  the  cooperating  army  under  Count 
D'Estaing  or  auxiliary  army  under  Count  DE  ROCHAMBKATJ  and  held  or 
attained  the  rank  of  colonel  for  such  services  or  who  had  commanded  a 
French  fleet  or  ship  of  war  on  the  American  coast." 

In  addition  to  13  societies  formed  in  the  States,  one  was  authorized  in 
France  under  the  direct  patronage  of  the  King. 

OPPOSITION 

The  career  of  the  French  society,  which  was  dispersed  in  the  "Reign 
of  Terror,"  1793,  is  of  peculiar  interest. 

The  cause  of  the  excitement  in  both  countries  was  the  hereditary  feature. 
France  was  hastening  toward  the  caldron  of  a  revolution  of  its  own,  and 
was  therefore  in  no  frame  of  mind  favorable  to  hereditary  institutions. 

Although  no  one  in  America  at  that  time  could  reasonably  feel  sensible 
of  any  danger,  some  made  a  handle  of  it  for  partisan  purposes.  Gen. 
Nathanael  Greene,  one  of  the  best  officers  of  the  Revolution,  was  opposed 
to  a  change  from  the  original  form. 

589 


590  The  French  Society  of  the  Cincinnati 

Washington  favored  the  change  and  submitted  his  views  in  writing  to 
the  first  general  meeting  in  Philadelphia.  These  may  be  summed  up: 

Discontinuance  of  the  hereditary  part  absolutely;  admission  of  no  more 
honorary  members;  the  rejection  of  subscriptions  or  donations  from  any 
person  not  a  citizen  of  the  United  States.  His  amendments  were  adopted 
and  the  constitution  amended. 

THE   FRENCH   SOCIETY 

As  the  French  society  dispersed  by  the  Terrorists,  after  upward  of  a 
century  of  abeyance,  is  being  reestablished  under  the  Republic  of  France, 
it  is  not  without  value  to  Americans ,  as  well  as  to  Frenchmen  to  make  the 
record  to  the  extent  of  the  participation  of  Counts  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  and 
d'Estaing  and  the  eligible  officers  of  the  society  in  France. 

The  final  articles  of  membership  provided  (Art.  II)  as  to  French 
members  *  *  * 

' '  Will  be  admitted  in  that  society  the  last  and  the  present  minister  of 
His  Most  Christian  Majesty  to  the  United  States,  all  the  generals  and 
colonels  of  regiments  and  legions  of  the  land  troops,  all  the  admirals  and 
captains  of  the  navy  having  the  rank  of  colonel  who  have  cooperated 
with  the  armies  of  the  United  States  in  their  effort  for  liberty. 

*  *  *  *  -        * 

"(XII)  The  subjects  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty,  members  of  this 
society  to  hold  their  assemblies  at  their  pleasure,  and  form  rules  of  gov 
ernment  conformable  to  the  object  of  the  institution  and  spirit  of  their 
Government." 

A    FRENCH   VIEW 

M.  le  Baron  de  Girardot,  in  his  interesting  publication  entitled  "L,'Or- 
dre  American  de  Cincinnatus  en  France,"  introduced  the  subject  in  this 
attractive  form.  f 

[Translation] 

"The  desire  for  distinction  is  innate  in  the  heart  of  man.  There  was  a 
time  in  which  societies  of  this  character  were  repugnant.  We  recognize 
them  in  all  the  republics  of  antiquity.  They  also  exist  in  modern  repub 
lics.  That  of  the  United  States  of  America  is  no  exception.  Hardly  had  the 
struggle  with  England  terminated  than  the  officers  of  the  victorious  army 
began  to  think  of  creating  a  special  order  commemorative  of  the  war,  a 
visible  sign  of  an  association  of  friendship  and  good  will  which  should 
subsist  between  them  and  their  descendants. 

"The  society  took  the  name  'Cincinnati,'  the  glorious  patrician  who 
quitted  his  plow  to  save  Rome  and  resigned  the  dictatorship  to  return  to 
the  plow. 


\ 


The  French  Society  of  the  Cincinnati          59^ 

"In  order  to  recognize  and  distinguish  themselves  the  members  of 
the  association  called  the  '  Cincinnati '  wore  a  gold  medal  suspended  by  a 
blue  ribbon  bordered  with^ white." 

It  is  said  in  the  rules  that  the  combination  of  colors  is  a  mark^of  the 
vinion  of  America  and  France. 

' '  The  society  ( vividly  recognizing  the  generous  assistance  which  America 
received  from  France,  and  desiring  to  perpetuate  the  friendship  which 
has  been  formed  and  has  so  happily  subsisted  between  the  officers  of  the 
allied  forces  in  the  prosecution  of  the  war,'  sent  the  insignias  to  the  dip 
lomats,  commandants,  and  chief  generals  and  colonels  of  the  armies  on 
land  arid  sea  which  had  fought  during  the  eight  years  of  the  war  of 
independence." 

SUSPICIONS    AROUSED 

Girardot. — Republics  are  suspicious.  The  United  States  became  alarmed 
over  seeing  an  order  constituted  destined  to  perpetuation  by  hereditary 
succession;  they  feared  in  it  the  germ  of  an  aristocracy.  The  Cincinnati, 
on  the  1 7th  of  May,  1784,  reorganized  and  revised  its  by-laws  of  govern 
ment  in  order  to  allay  all  suspicion  among  their  citizens. 

CORRESPONDENCE 

The  following  correspondence  between  General  Washington  and  Count 
DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  and  ROCHAMBEAU  with  the  King,  through  the  minister 
of  war,  possesses  special  historical  value,  being  practically  new  to  the  large 
number  of  men  and  women  in  the  United  States  formed  into  societies  with 
similar  aims,  and  to  the  descendants  of  the  actors  in  the  great  struggle 
and  to  citizens  of  the  Republic  of  France. 

WASHINGTON   TO    ROCHAMBEAU 

In  a  letter  of  October  29,  1783,  dated  at  Rock  Hill,  N.  J.,  General  Wash 
ington  writing  to  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  speaks  of  the  institution  of  the 
"  Cincinnati:" 

"SiR:  The  officers  of  the  American  Army,  in  order  to  perpetuate  that 
mutual  friendship  which  they  contracted  in  the  hour  of  common  danger 
and  distress,  and  for  other  purposes  which  are  mentioned  in  the  instru 
ment  of  their  association,  have  united  together  in  a  society  of  friends 
under  the  name  of  Cincinnati,  and  having  honored  me  with  the  office  of 
president,  it  becomes  a  very  agreeable  part  of  my  duty  to  inform  you  that 
the  society  have  done  themselves  the  honor  to  consider  you  and  the 
generals  and  officers  of  the  army  which  you  commanded  in  America  as 
members  of  the  society. 

"Major  L'Enfant,  who  will  have  the  honor  to  deliver  this  to  you,  will 
execute  the  order  of  the  society  in  France,  amongst  which  he  is  directed 


592  The  French  Society  of  the  Cincinnati 

to  present  you  with  one  of  the  first  orders  that  are  made,  and  likewise  with 
orders  for  the  other  gentlemen  of  your  army,  which  I  take  the  liberty  to 
request  you  to  present  to  them  in  the  name  of  the  society.  As  soon  as  the 
diploma  is  made  out  I  will  have  the  honor  to  transmit  it  to  you." 

COUNT  DE   ROCHAMBEAU  TO   THE   MINISTER  OF  WAR 

The  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  on  the  I4th  of  September,  1783,  wrote  to 
the  minister  of  war. 

[Translation] 

"MONSEIGNEUR:  I  have  the  honor  to  convey  to  you  the  translation 
of  a  letter  which  I  have  received  from  General  Washington  and  of  the 
institution  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati;  I  have  translated  it  literally 
and  in  a  manner,  however,  to  be  intelligible  to  His  Majesty,  respecting 
which  I  ask  you  to  give  orders  to  regulate  my  course. 

SPEAKING   FOR   THE   KING 

The  minister  of  war  replied  in  the  following  terms  of  approbation  of 

the  King: 

[Translation] 

"DECEMBER  19,  1783. 

' '  I  have  given  an  account  to  the  King,  Monsieur,  of  the  letter  which 
General  Washington  has  written  to  you,  and  of  the  proposition  which  he 
has  made  to  you  in  the  name  of  the  American  Army,  also  to  the  general 
officers  and  colonels  who  have  served  in  America  under  your  orders,  to 
join  the  association  formed  under  the  title  'The  Cincinnati,'  in  order  to 
consecrate  the  names  of  those  who  have  cooperated  most  actively  in  the 
establishment  of  independence,  and  in  order  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of 
the  alliance  of  France  and  the  United  States. 

"His  Majesty  has  directed  me  to  inform  you  that  he  permits  you  to 
accept  this  honorable  invitation;  he  wishes  himself  that  you  shall  assure, 
on  his  part,  General  Washington  that  he  will  watch  always  with  extreme 
satisfaction  everything  which  will  tend  to  maintain  and  bind  together 
the  bonds  existing  between  France  and  the  United  States. 

"The  success  which  has  been  the  outcome  of  this  union  and  the  glory 
which  has  been  its  fruit  have  been  demonstrated  by  many  advantages. 

"You  may  therefore,  Monsieur,  say  to  the  general  officers  and  colonels 
who  served  in  the  army  you  commanded  that  the  King  will  allow  them 
to  unite  with  the  association  of  the  '  Cincinnati. ' 

"You  will  conveniently  address  to  me  a  copy  of  the  list  of  the  officers 
who  are  to  participate  in  this  association,  as  honorable  by  the  spirit  of  its 
institution  as  by  the  virtues  and  the  talents  of  the  celebrated  general 
whom  they  have  chosen  for  president. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  most  perfect  attachment,  your  very 
humble  and  obedient  servant." 


The  French  Society  of  the  Cincinnati          593 

ROCHAMBEAU'S   REPIyY 

To  this  letter  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  made  reply: 

[Translation] 

"PARIS,  December  26,  1783. 

"MoNSEiGNEUR:  I  have  received  the  letter  with  which  you  honored 
me,  of  the  i8th  of  this  month,  in  which  you  kindly  informed  me  of  the  per 
mission  the  King  gives  me,  also  the  general  officers  and  colonels  who  have 
served  in  America  under  my  orders,  and  returning  the  invitation  which 
we  have  received  from  General  Washington  as  president-general  of  the 
association  which  has  been  formed  under  the  name  '  The  Cincinnati.' 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  address  to  you  a  list  of  the  general  officers  and 
colonels  who  may  be  admitted  to  the  said  society  in  following  literally  the 
resolution  of  the  American  Army,  and  the  case  of  those  who  appear  to  me 
under  favorable  construction  to  be  eligible,  but  as  to  whom  I  shall  have  a 
fuller  explanation  from  the  general  society." 

UST  OF  FRENCH  EUGIBI,ES 

The  list  of  general  officers  and  colonels  of  the  French  auxiliary  corps  in 
America  which  the  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  admitted  to  the  Society  of 
the  Cincinnati,  conforming  to  the  resolution  of  the  American  Army, 
follows : 

Lieutenant-generals.—  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  lieutenant-general, 
commandant;  Baron  de  Viomenil,  lieutenant-general;  Chevalier  de  Chas- 
tellux,  Count  de  Viomenil,  Count  de  Saint-Simon,  De  Choisy,  De  BeVille. 

Major-generals. — Count  de  Custine,  Dukede  Lauzun,  Duke  de  Laval, 
Count  d'Autichamps,  Marquis  de  Rostaing. 

Brigadier  -  generals  advanced  (were  made  brigadiers  in  America  and 
major-generals  upon  their  return  to  France). — De  Sandrouins,  d'Aboville,  • 
Lavalette. 

Brigadiers  in  America. — Marquis  de  Saint-Maime,  Count  Chretien  des 
Deux-Ponts,  Count  de  Poudens,  Viscount  d'Arrot,  Viscount  de  Rocham- 
beau,  Count  Guillaume  des  Deux-Ponts,  Viscount  de  Noailles,  Count  de 
Charlus,  Count  Flechin,  Robert  Dillon,  Querenet  de  la  Combe  of  the 
Engineers,  Count  de  Segur,  Count  Fersen,  Prince  de  Broglie,  Scheldon, 
Count  de  Damas,  Count  de  Vauban,  Marquis  de  Champcenets. 

All  served  in  America,  with  the  grade  of  colonel,  in  that  part  of  the 
army  of  ROCHAMBEAU  included  in  the  detachment  which  came  from  Santo 
Domingo  to  the  siege  of  Yorktown. 

Lafayette. — Marquis  de  Lafayette,  not  being  an  officer  of  the  French 
but  of  the  Continental  army,  was  not  a  member  of  the  French  Society  of 
the  Cincinnati. 

S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 38 


594  The  French  Society  of  the  Cincinnati 

ROCHAMBEAU   REPORTS   PERMISSION 

Upon  the  receipt  of  authority  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  called  his  former 
officers  in  America  together  to  inform  them  of  the  King's  permission.  This 
fact  he  conveyed  to"  the  minister  of  war. 

' '  PARIS,  January  7,  1784. 

"MONSEiGNEUR:  1  have  read  fo-day  to  the  generals  and  colonels  who 
served  under  my  order  in  America  the  letter  which  you  have  done  me  the 
honor  to  write  to  me,  conveying  the  permission  of  His  Majesty  to  unite  with 
the  association  which  has  been  formed  under  the  name  '  Cincinnati. ' 

"There  has  been  raised  a  subscription,  voluntary  and  unanimous,  the 
condition  of  which  I  have  the  honor  to  set  before  you.  The  aim  which 
we  have  in  view,  being  the  perpetuation  of  the  union  which  His  Majesty 
has  formed  between  the  two  nations,  by  uniting  in  the  relief  of  the  dis 
tressed  officers  of  the  American  army  with  which  we  have  served,  I  hope 
that  he  will  not  disapprove  of  a  sum  so  moderate  from  his  Kingdom  for  a 
purpose  so  laudable. ' ' 

THE   KING   APPROVES 

He  received  a  prompt  and  special  reply  that  the  King  approved  of  his 
course. 

SUBSCRIPTION   OF  THE   FRENCH   SOCIETY 

The  following  amounts  were  voluntarily  subscribed  by  the  French  officers, 
to  be  deposited  with  M.  de  Baulny,  former  treasurer  of  the  army,  to  be 
placed  at  the  disposition  of  the  general  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  in  order 
to  cooperate  with  the  generous  purposes  of  its  institution  : 

Francs 

M.  M.  Le  Comte  de  ROCHAMBEAU,  L.  G.  C 6,  ooo 

Le  Baron  de  Viomenil,  L.  G 3,  ooo 

Le  Chevalier  de  Chastellux,  M.  D.  C 2,  ooo 

Le  Marquis  de  Saint-Simon,  M.  D.  C 2,  ooo 

Le  Comte  de  Viomenil,  M.  D.  C 2,  ooo 

De  Choisy,  M.  D.  C 2,1300 

De  Bdville,  M.  D.  C — 

Le  Comte  de  Custine,  M.  D.  C 2,  ooo 

Le  Due  de  Lauzun,  M.  D.  C 2,  ooo 

Le  Due  de  Laval,  M.  D.  C : 2,  ooo 

Le  Comte  D'Autichamps,  M.  D.  C .— 

Le  Marquis  de  Rostaing,  M.  D.  C 2,  ooo 

Desaudrouins,  B 

D' Aboville,  B v. i,  500 

La  Vallette,  B i,  500 

Le  Comte  Saint-Maime,  C i,  ooo 


The  French  Society  of  the  Cincinnati          595 

Francs 

L,e  Comte  Chrestien  de  Deux-Ponts,  C 

L,e  Comte  de  Poudens,  C i,  ooo 

L^e  Vicomte  D' Arrot,  C i,  ooo 

L,e  Comte  Guillaume  de  Deux-Ponts,  C — 

L,e  Vicomte  de  Rochambeau,  C i,  ooo 

L,e  Vicomte  de  Noailles,  C .' i,  ooo 

L,e  Comte  de  Charlus,  C i,  ooo 

I^e  Comte  de  Flechin,  C — 

L,e  Comte  Robert  Dillon,  C i,  ooo. 

Querenet  de  la  Combe,  C 

Le  Comte  de  Segur,  C i,  ooo 

L,e  Comte  de  Fersen,  C 

Ive  Prince  de  Broglie,  C i,  ooo 

Scheldon,  C — 

L/e  Comte  de  Damas,  C • i,  ooo 

L,e  Comte  de  Vauban i,  ooo 

L,e  Marquis  de  Champcenets i,  ooo 

NoTE. — All  those  against  whom  the  amounts  are  blank  were  absent,  but 
probably  complied  with  the  resolution. 

BOUGAINVIIJ,E   RECEIVES  A    BADGE 

In  the  following  communication  Bougainville,  commander  of  L,e  Guemer, 
asks  permission  to  accept  a  badge  sent  him  in  the  name  of  the  American 
army. 

[Translation.] 

"HENNEBON,  February  2,  1787. 

f '  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  I  have  received  by  the  last  courier  the 
badge  of  the  association  of  the  Cincinnati,  which  has  been  sent  to  me  in 
the  name  of  the  American  army  by  M.  M. ,  the  general  and*  superior  offi 
cers  of  the  United  States,  who  are  now  in  Paris.  This  decoration  is  in  con 
sideration  of  having  served  and  commanded,  in  my  rank  of  brigadier  of 
infantry,  a  detacnment  composed  of  the  troops  of  the  two  nations  during 
the  campaign,  under  the  orders  of  Count  D'Estaing.  I  ask  you,  Monseig- 
neur,  to  obtain  from  the  King  his  approval  to  wear  a  mark  of  esteem  which 
flatters  me  beyond  my  merit,  but  which  I  desire  to  share  with  the  rank  of 
a  general  officer  of  the  marine,  and  with  the  captains  of  the  vessels  with 
which  I  have  participated  in  duty  on  the  American  coast." 

PERMITTED 

The  minister  promptly  responded  to  M.  de  Bougainville  that  the  King 
had  given  general  permission  to  associate  themselves  with  the  order  of  the 
"Cincinnati,"  that  the  Count  D'Estaing  and  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  had 
been  charged  to  report  admissions  to  the  order  and  other  objects  of  the 
organization,  of  which  the  King  had  taken  cognizance.  *  *  * 


596  The  French  Society  of  the  Cincinnati 

WASHINGTON   AGAIN  WRITES   TO   ROCHAMBEAU    DECLINING    FRENCH 
SUBSCRIPTIONS 

In  the  following  letter  General  Washington  covers  all  information  to 
date  concerning  the  society: 

"  PHILADELPHIA,  May  75,  1784. 

"  The  letters  with  which  you  have  honored  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati 
have  been  read  with  attention  and  the  different  subjects  examined  with 
the  most  respectful  consideration. 

"It  is  an  agreeable  circumstance  to  the  society  that  the  Count  DE 
ROCHAMBEAU  has  become  a  member  and  interested  himself  in  its  repu 
tation. 

' '  The  very  generous  subscriptions  made  by  the  gentlemen  of  the  French 
army  merit  our  fullest  recognition,  but  as  that  is  incompatible  with  the 
spirit  of  the  confederation  and  contrary  to  the  original  intention  of  this 
society  to  receive  sums  of  money  from  foreign  nations,  although  allied, 
we  believe  that  these  gentlemen  will  not  consider  it  as  a  want  of  our 
affection  for  them  if  we  are  obliged  to  refuse. 

' '  The  request  of  Count  de  Lilancourt  will  be  fully  accorded  the  exact 
sense  of  the  institution  which  admits  all  the  officers  of  his  rank  who  have 
cooperated  with  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  and  the  Count  L,ilan- 
court  has  manifestly  cooperated  in  sending  from  Santo  Domingo  to  the 
continent  a  considerable  detachment,  which  was  under  his  orders,  at  the 
risk  of  events  which  might  have  occurred.  It  is  for  that  reason  the  opinion 
of  the  society  that  Count  de  I/ilancourt  is  a  member  by  right. 

"  It  is  not  in  the  power  of  this  assembly  of  the  society  to  determine  the 
justice  of  all  the  demands  which  have  been  made.  It  is  for  that  reason 
they  are  submitted  to  the  assembly  of  the  society  in  France  in  order  to  be 
taken  into  consideration.  The  different  memoranda,  requests,  and  letters 
relative  to  the  demands  will  be  transmitted  to  the  society  in  France,  with 
a  copy  of  the  institution  as  it  has  been  corrected  and  a  letter  communi 
cating  the  reasons  of  these  alterations. 

"  Signed  in  the  general  assembly." 

D'ESTAING'S  APPROVAL 

From  Philadelphia,  May  15, 1784,  General  Washington  in  reply  to  a  letter 
dated  the  Christmas  day  preceding,  from  Count  d'Estaing,  after  expres 
sions  of  tender  emotion  for  the  kindness  of  mention  for  his  ' '  person  and 
character,"  feels  himself  happy  that  the  Count  "countenances  with  so 
much  cordiality  the  association  (Cincinnati)  formed  by  the  officers  of  the 
American  army,  a  bond  of  cement,  *  *  *  to  render  durable  and 
permanent  those  mutual  friendships  and  connections  which  have  happily 
taken  root  between  the  officers  of  your  army  and  ours. ' ' 


The  French  Society  of  the  Cincinnati          597 
ADDITIONAL  LIST  OF  OFFICERS 

TO  BE  PROPOSED   FOR  ADMISSION  UNDER  THE  REGULATION   OF  THE 
GENERAL  SOCIETY  ON  MAY  15,  1784 

Le  Baron  de  1'Estrade  M.  de  MacMahon 

Le  Chevalier  de  Lameth  Le  Chevalier  de  Tarle" 
Charles  Malo  Frar^ois  de  Lameth         Le  Comte  de  Loncenil 

M.  de  Tarle"  Le  Comte  de  Chabannes 

M.  de  Menouville  Le  Baron  d'Esebeck 

Le  Baron  de  Saint-Simon  M.  d'Anselme 

Le  Chevalier  de  Mirabeau  M.  de  Rickey 

Boniface  Riguetti  M.  Lynch 

M.  de  Montesquieu  Le  Vicomte  de  Vaudreuil 

Le  Vicomte  Dosmond  Le  Vicomte  de  Fleury 

These  two  officers  as  well  as  M.  M.  de  Rickey  and  De  MacMahon  took 
part  in  several  actions  of  the  frigate  Eagle,  and  behaved  with  valor. 
This  23  August,  1784. 

LE  COMTE  DE  ROCHAMBEAU. 

Supplement  of  two  officers  who  have  verified  their  right  to  join  the  order 
under  the  new  rule  of  the  general  society  August  15,  1784: 

Goulet  de  la  Jour  Marquis  de  Montmort 

COUNT  DE  ROCHAMBEAU. 

ROCHAMBEAU  CHIEF  IN  EUROPE 

Then  follows  project  of  a  letter  which  M.  le  Marshal  de  Castrie  pro 
posed  to  write  to  Count  d'Estaing,  in  reply  to  one  from  the  Marshal  in 
reference  to  the  determination  of  the  officers  for  admission,  intimating 
that  Count  ROCHAMBEAU  is  considered  by  General  Washington  as  the  chief 
of  the  association  in  Europe. 

ADDITIONAL   ADMISSIONS 

In  the  general  assembly  of  the  Cincinnati  Saturday,  May  15,  1784 — 
"Resolved,  That  the  officers  of  the  army  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty 
on  land  and  sea  who  have  served  in  America,  and  who  have  been  prom 
ised  rank  of  colonel  for  their  services  in  that  country,  be  included  in  the 
institution  of  the  Cincinnati  as  revised  and  amended. 

' '  GENERAL  WASHINGTON,  President. ' ' 

In  the  general  assembly  of  the  society  Monday,  May  17,  1784 — 
"Resolved,  That  M.    de  Tarle",    intendant  and  second  officer  of  the 

French  auxiliary  army,  and  Chevalier    de    Lameth,    colonel   by  brevet; 

also  Count  Sonneville,  Count  de  la  Touche,  Count  Kergariou,  Chevalier  de 


598  The  French  Society  of  the  Cincinnati 

« 

I'Eguille,  Chevalier  du  Quesne,  Count  de  Trevalais,  Chevalier  Maulevner, 
Chevalier  de  Vallogne,  Count  Capellis,  and  Chevalier  de  la  Perouse. 

"Captains  and  commandants  of  vessels  and  frigates  of  the  French 
marine  employed  in  special  service  on  the  American  coasts,  and  who  are 
particularly  mentioned  by  his  excellency  the  minister  of  France,  have  a 
right  and  in  the  spirit  and  intention  of  the  institution  to  become  members 
of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati. 

"GENERAL,  WASHINGTON,  President." 

WASHINGTON   REPORTS  ALTERATIONS 

General  Washington,  in  a  letter  to  Count  D'Estaing  and  Count  DE 
ROCHAMBEAU,  dated  Philadelphia,  May  17,  1784,  says,  "We,  the  delegates 
of  the  Cincinnati,  having  judged  it  well  to  make  several  essential  altera 
tions  and  corrections  in  our  institution,  and  having  believed  it  our  duty 
to  communicate  the  reasons  for  them  in  'a  circular  addressed  to  the  State 
societies,  we  transmit  to  you  for  your  information  a  copy  of  this  letter 
with  one  of  the  constitution  as  it  has  been  altered  and  corrected.  Con 
vinced  of  having  acted  with  prudence  dictated  by  love  of  country,  we  are 
persuaded  that  you  will  be  satisfied  of  the  justice  of  our  course  when  you 
are  informed  our  action  was  occasioned  by  the  conviction  that  some  things 
contained  in  our  original  system  might  be  fortuitously  productive  of  con 
sequences  which  we  would  not  approve,  also  in  keeping  with  sentiments 
which  apparently  prevail  among  our  citizens. 

"  Under  these  circumstances  we  considered  it  would  not  be  a  proof  of 
magnanimity  to  persist  in  a  thing  which  might  be  onerous  or  contrary 
to  the  views  of  the  community  in  which  the  society  exists. 

#%.;•:;:.*-•.'..,*•••••#"'•.••'* 

"For  us,  then,  it  is  enough  that  our  beneficent  designs  to  assist  the  unfor 
tunate  be  not  frustrated ;  that  our  friendships  also  be  innumerable  as 
they  are  sincere,  and  of  which  you  have  received  marks  with  so  much 
sensibility. 

"For  you  Messieurs,  it  will  suffice  that  your  merits  and  services  are 
ineffaceably  impressed  upon  all  the  hearts  of  the  entire  nation,  that  your 
names  and  action  can  never  be  effaced  from  memory. 

' '  Cherishing  such  sentiments  and  reciprocating  your  affectionate  regard, 
we  ask  you  to  have  the  goodness  to  believe. that  although  nothing  could 
be  added  to  our  friendship  and  veneration,  nevertheless  by  your  order  and 
your  association  with  us  you  have  effectually  established  between  us  most 
strongly,  indissoluble  ties." 

TO   ACT   FOR-  THEMSELVES 

In  a  letter,  Philadelphia,  May  17,  1787,  General  Washington  transmits 
to  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  official  letters  and  other  proceedings  of  the 
general  assembly  of  the  society  for  his  consideration.  Those  who  consti- 


The  French  Society  of  the  Cincinnati          599 

tute  the  society  in  France  he  thought  should  decide  for  themselves  upon 
the  claims  of  their  compatriots  upon  the  principles  of  the  institution  as  it 
has  been  revised. 

On  July  26,  1784,  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  transmitted  to  the  minister  of 
war  translations  of  the  letters  he  had  received  from  General  Washington 
and  the  resolutions  of  the  society  at  its  meeting  in  the  previous  May,  with 
an  abstract  of  corrections  made  at  the  first  institution  relative  to  the  attack 
received  in  the  State  legislatures,  remarking,  ' '  There  are  two  articles  which 
interest  the  nation  and  merit  your  attention. 

"The  first,  which  invites  the  French  society  to  assemble  to  elect  members 
and  form  rules  analagous  to  the  principles  of  our  government. 

"The  second,  which  gives  an  extension  to  their  first  resolution  in  favor  of 
the  generals  and  colonels  of  the  French  corps  and  unite  under  it  all  the 
officers  of  the  land  and  sea  brevetted  and  having  the  rank  of  colonel  who 
have  received  this  grade  on  account  of  service  in  America. 

"The  general  society  in  consequence  of  this  article  refers  to  me  all  the 
claims  which  have  been  examined  and  allowed  by  the  said  French  society 
in  consequence  of  the  new  resolutions  of  the  general  society. 

"  1  am  of  the  opinion  that  General  Washington  has  sent  the  requests  of 
the  marine  to  Count  D'Estaing. 

"  I  do  not  presume  His  Majesty  will  wish  to  perpetuate  a  foreign  society 
in  his  Kingdom,  therefore  I  anticipate  the  reply  to  this  article  will  be 
negative. 

"  It  appears,  however,  suitable  that  His  Majesty  permit  Count  D'Estaing 
and  myself  concurrently  and  separately  to  assemble  for  one  time  only  the1 
members  of  the  society,  in  order  to  examine  all  the  requests  which  have 
been  sent  by  the  General,  and  allow  those  which  conform  to  the  new  rules 
and  take  such  action  as  to  include  officers  entitled  to  consideration  in 
order  to  cut  short  all  subsequent  solicitation. 

"There  are  a  number  of  such  cases  sent  me,  such  as  of  Chevalier 
Lamette,  Baron  de  1'Estrade,  etc.,  which  I  shall  have  the  honor  to  send 
to  you  upon  my  return,  a  list  in  exact  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the 
general  society  of  May  15  last. 

"  You  will  see,  Monseigneur,  that  the  general  society  politely  refuses  the 
subscriptions  of  the  sums  which  we  have  believed  our  duty  to  offer,  writh 
the  result  that  we  had  pleasure' in  making  the  offer  and  still  better  for 
them  to  refuse." 

The  Count  adds  that  he  had  sent  copies  of  the  dispatch  of  a  political 
character  to  Count  de  Vergennes,  with  whom  he  (the  minister  of  war)  had 
conferred.  He  expected  his  orders  to  regulate  his  conduct,  and  had  no 
doubt  that  Count  d'Estaing  had  taken  those  of  Marshal  de  Castries. 


6oo  The  French  Society  of  the  Cincinnati 

D'ESTAING  SOLICITS   AUTHORITY 

Count  d'Estaing,  in  a  letter  to  ROCHAMBEAU  for  the  Society  of  the  Cin 
cinnati,  dated  Paris,  August  19,  1784,  asks  the  necessary  authority  to  inform 
Marquis  d'Hervilly,  Edouard  Dillon,  M.  O.  Moran,  Marquis  de  Fontenil- 
les,  and  Baron  Choin,  that  the  Count  permit,  in  consequence  of  the  decision 
of  the  King  and  resolve  of  the  general  assembly  of  May  15,  1784,  these 
officers  to  accept  the  decorations  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati.  He 
adds  that  Marshal  Castries  authorized  him  to  inform  Viscount  de  Fon- 
tagne,  colonel  at  Santo  Domingo,  he  might  accept  the  decoration  of  the 
society. 

D'ESTAING 's  LIST 

The  decision  asked  by  M.  d'Estaing,  and  submitted  to  the  minister  of 
war  for  the  admission  of  the  officers  who  had  been  decorated  and  wished 
authorization,  included  the  following: 

M.  le  Marquis  d'Hervilly  M.  le  Count  Edouard  Dillon 

M.  O.  Moran,  colonel  M.  le  Marquis  Fontenilles,  colonel 

M.  le  Baron  de  Choin,  colonel 
Le  Comte  de  Fontagne,  colonel   com 
mandant 

Paris,  August  19,  1784. 

ESTAING. 

LIMIT  TO   THE  SOCIETY 

Marshal  de  Castries,  from  Versailles,  August  27,  1784,  wrote  to  Marshal 
de  Segur  that  he  adopted  his  opinion  respecting  putting  limit  to  the 
Cincinnati  Society  and  the  proposed  response  of  Counts  D'Estaing  and 
ROCHAMBEAU. 

MORE    NAMES 

On  August  31,  1784,  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  wrote  to  the  secretary  of 
war  announcing,  after  three  verifications  he  had  forgotten  another  candi 
date  for  the  society,  Count  Henry  de  Saint-Simon,  who  served  at  the  siege 
of  Yorktown  in  the  Regiment  de  Touraine,  forming  part  of  the  corps  of  his 
cousin  (he  was  made  colonel,  January  i,  1783),  and  asked  acceptance  of 
him. 

Duke  de  Fleury,  from  Au  Plessis  aux  Tournelles  near  Provins,  Septem 
ber,  1784,  having  been  informed  of  the  permission  obtained  by  Count  DE 
ROCHAMBEAU  from  the  King  for  the  Count  Fleury,  his  son,  to  wear  the 
decoration  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  expressed  his  thanks. 

Marshal  de  Castries  requested  Marshal  de  Segur  to  communicate  the 
letter  he  received  from  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU,  in  order  to  authorize 
the  land  officers  to  become  members  of  the  Association  of  the  Cincinnati. 


The  French  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  6ci 

OMITTED    NAMES 

"We  do  not  find,"  adds  Girardot,  "  the  name  of  M.  de  Tallyrand,"  and 
gives  a  letter  from  Viomenil,  Boston,  December  4,  1782,  rendering  an 
account  of  services  of  Count  Bozon  de  Tallyrand  marching  into  Boston  in 
the  front  rank  of  a  company  of  chasseurs  of  the  Regiment  de  Soissonnais 
with  a  rifle  on  his  shoulder,  under  the  name  Va  de  bon  Cceur.  Viomenil 
asks  the  marquis  to  request  His  Majesty  not  to  disapprove,  that  he  had 
him  as  his  aid-de-camp. 

CAMEO    FOR   WASHINGTON 

Girardot  refers  to  the  society  having  given  to  Washington  as  a  Cincin 
nati  an  antique  cameo  mounted  on  a  ring  30  millimeters  (ly1^  inches)  wide 
and  25  high  (i  inch),  representing  two  personages.  Nevertheless  the 
American  hero  gave  this  ring,  a  souvenir  of  the  Cincinnati,  to  Kosciusko, 
who  had  served  as  his  aid-de-camp  during  the  war  for  independence. 
Kosciusko  in  turn  gave  it  as  a  present  to  Baron  de  Girardot,  who  served  in 
the  Polish  Light  Cavalry  of  the  Imperial  Guard,  and  by  him  it  was  left  to 
his  son. 

SWEDEN'S    KING   OBJECTS 

The  King  of  Sweden  declined  to  permit  his  subjects  who  were  officers  in 
the  French  army,  and  who  had  served  in  America,  to  wear  the  Order 
of  the  "Cincinnati,"  regarding  the  institution  as  having  a  republican 
tendency  not  suited  to  his  Government. 

In  a  letter  of  August  20,  1784,  from  Mount  Vernon  to  Count  DE  ROCHAM- 
BEAU,  Washington  commenting  on  this,  wrote  sarcastically:  "  Considering 
how  recently  the  King  of  Sweden  has  changed  the  form  of  government  of 
that  country,  it  is  not  so  much  to  be  wondered  at  that  his  fear  should  get  the 
better  of  his  liberality  as  to  anything  which  might  have  the  semblance  of 
republicanism,  but  when  it  is  further  considered  how  few  of  his  nation 
had  or  could  have  a  right  to  the  order  I  think  he  might  have  suffered 
his  complaisance  to  overcome  them." 

WASHINGTON    DECORATION 

The  decoration  worn  by  Washington  was  given  to  General  Lafayette, 
according  to  Girardot,  who  says: 

"This  decoration,  in  gold  enamel,  is  encircled  with  a  crown  of  laurel 
which  sustains  two  cornucopias  entwined,  from  which  fruit  is  falling,  and 
which  are  themselves  suspended  to  a  ribbon  by  an  oblong  ring  formed  of 
two  braids  joined  together. 

"The  American  eagle,  wings  spread,  occupies  the  middle  of  the  crown, 
and  carries  a  shield  on  each  side.  The  inscription  of  the  reverse:  Soci. 
cin.  rum.  inst.  A.  D.  1783,  virt.  prae. 


602  The  French  Society  of  the  Cincinnati 

"The  figures  of  these  shields "  says  he,  "are  in  dull  gold,  the  ground  in 
enamel,  and  the  lower  ground  in  flesh-colored  enamel,  the  ribbon  is  moire 
(watered  silk)." 

THE   WASHINGTON    "ORDER" 

The  members  of  the  French  branch  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati 
presented  to  Washington  an  order,  set  with  about  200  gems,  costing 
$3,000.  The  eagle  and  group  of  military  trophies  were  covered  with  dia 
monds.  The  olive  leaves  attached  to  the  eagle  were  emeralds;  the  berries 
were  rubies  and  the  beak  of  the  eagle  an  amethyst. 

Washington,  highly  appreciating  this  testimonial  of  friendship,  pre 
sented  the  order  to  the  General  Society  of  the  Cincinnati.  It  has  since 
been  worn  by  the  president-general  at  its  meetings. 

With  the  order  was  sent  a  remembrance  from  the  French  officers  for 
General  Washington  and  his  wife,  consisting  of  two  superb  dinner  sets  of 
Sevres  china,  specially  executed  for  them  by  the  most  skilled  artisans 
and  decorators. 

In-  the  set  for  .the  general  each  piece  displayed  wreaths  of  leaves, 
scrolls,  and  Fame  sounding  a  trumpet  and  holding  in  the  other  hand  the 
order  of  the  Cincinnati. 

That. for  Mrs.  Washington  was  of  more  delicate  tint.  Each  piece  bore 
the  initials  M.  W.,  the  monogram  of  Martha  Washington,  surrounded  by 
a  wreath  of  olive  and  laurel.  Beneath  was  a  ribbon  bearing  the  legend 
"  Decus  et  tuta  men  abillo."  From  the  wreath  radiated  rays  of  gold. 
Around  the  outside  of  each  cup  and  covered  dish,  and  on  the  rim  of  each 
plate,  saucer,  and  open  vessel,  in  soft  colors,  was  represented  a  chain  of  13 
large  and  13  small  elliptical  links,  within  each  link  was  inscribed  the 
name  of  a  State  of  the  Union. 

There  exists  in  the  files  of  the  secretary-general  of  the  Society  of  the 
Cincinnati  a  large  number  of  letters  from  Count  DE  ROCHAMBEAU  to  Presi 
dent-General  Washington  and  to  former  Secretary-General  Maj.  Gen. 
Henry  Knox,  Secretary  of  War,  also  a  complete  record  of  ROCHAMBEAU'S 
military  career. 

At  the  Chateau  de  Rochambeau,  Thore,  Loir  et  Cher,  France,  in  a  glass 
case  are  preserved  Marshal  ROCHAMBEAU'S  eagle  of  the  Order  of  the 
Cincinnati  and  his  cross  of  the  Royal  and  Military  Order  of  St.  L,ouis. 

THE  "MIRABEAU  CONSIDERATIONS" 

The  "  Considerations  on  the  Order  of  the  Cincinnatus,  by  the  Count  de 
Mirabeau"  (and  Sebastian  Roche  Nicolas  Chamfort)  are  comprised  in  79 
octavo  pages,  with  27  pages  of  notes  and  illustrations  referred  to  in  the 
text. 


The  French  Society  of  the  Cincinnati          603 

The  work  itself  is  interesting  if  not  convincing.  The  notes  and  illustra 
tions  contain  much  striking  but  poorly  applied  information  of  historical 
and  reminiscent  value. 

A  translation  of  the  Mirabeau  "  Considerations,"  etc.,  made  in  London, 
1785,  when  the  humiliation  of  the  American  war  was  still  a  source  of 
national  and  individual  irritation,  starts  off  with  a  brief  introduction,  quite 
in  keeping  with  the  tone  and  phrasing  of  the  original. 

An  American  edition  of  this  translation  with  a  postscript  was  run  off  in 
Philadelphia  in  the  same  controversial  spirit. 

The  "Considerations"  it  was  later  shown  were  written  at  the  sugges 
tion  of  Doctor  Franklin,  still  in  Europe,  after  the  negotiation  of  the  defini 
tive  treaty  of  peace  with  Great  Britain,  and  at  the  time  ( 1784)  concluding  a 
treaty  with  Prussia.  Mirabeau  at  the  moment  was  leading  a  stormy  sort 
of  Bohemian  life  in  Francej  Germany,  and  England,  depending  upon  his 
wits  in  all  sorts  of  schemes  and  a  full  score  of  intrigues.  The  work  was 
unworthy  of  his  undoubted  gifts. 

As  a  reflex  of  the  views  of  Franklin  the  "Considerations"  were  impoiv 
tant,  sufficiently  so  for  Mr.  Jefferson,  the  American  envoy  at  Paris,  to  send 
a  copy  to  General  Washington,  who  referred  to  the  subject  in  a  letter. 

A  few  extracts  from  this  fact  may  be  interesting,  particularly  as  they 
throw  light  on  the  republican  tendencies  and  mode  of  reasoning,  undoubt 
edly  stimulated  by  the  return  of  the  French  tropps  after  their  experiences 
in  America. 

"At  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,"  says  the  author,  "at  the  very 
moment  when  America  seemed  to  open  an  asylum  to  mankind,  and  when 
a  revolution,  the  most  astonishing,  and  perhaps  the  first  which  philosophy 
can  approve,  fixes  the  attention  of  all  nations  upon  the  other  .hemisphere, 
the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  is  established  throughout  the  whole  continent 
of  America  without  the  slightest  opposition  either  on  the  part  of  the  Con 
gress,  which  represents  and  rules  the  American  Confederation,  or  on  the 
part  of  any  of  the  United  States  or  any  body  of  men  in  any  one  of  those 
States,  nay,  without  a  single  individual's  daring  to  make  the  smallest  ob 
servation  to  his  fellow  citizens  upon  an  order  perfectly  new  in  its  kind  and 
which  must  infallibly  and  speedily  change  the  face  of  the  country  which 
gives  it  birth." 

•K  *  *  *  * 

"Thus  the  man  of  the  people  and  of  the  army,  General  Washington,  is 
already  an  honorary  member  (president)  of  the  order,  which  to  guard  its 
existence  no  doubt  from  attacks,  solicits  recruits  and  supporters  in  all  the 

monarchies  of  Europe." 

*  *  *  *  * 

"Military  force  has  been  the  sole  object  of  their  thoughts  because  it  was 
the  mighty  instrument  of  their  projects;  with  this  in  view  it  was  that  the 
inheritance  was  reserved  to  none  but  military  men. 


604  The  French  Society  of  the  Cincinnati 

"Thus  did  the  patriocrate  grow  upon  Rome,  an  institution  as  much  in 
ferior  to  the  institution  of  the  Cincinnati  as  the  chiefs  of  banditti,  living 
upon  plunder  and  building  hovels  upon  the  soil  where  Rome  now  stands, 
were  inferior  to  a  body  of  such  illustrious  commanders  as  Greene,  Gates, 
Moultrie,  Wayne  and  many  others  who  have  been  intrusted  with  the  de 
fense  and  political  interests  of  a  mighty  nation,  well  seen  in  all  the  arts  of 
war  and  peace  and  maintaining  from  the  first  hour  of  its  political  existence 
a  distinguished  rank  amidst  the  powers  of  the  earth." 

*  #  *  *  % 

The  Count  Mirabeau  then  proceeds  to  elaborate  his  style  of  reasoning 
with  much  applied  simile  in  pleasing  diction  from  Roman  mediaeval 
and  modern  sources,  including  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and 
the  terms  of  the  institution  of  the  '.'Society  of  the  Cincinnati." 

The  Count's  argument  might  have  been  straight  had  his  hypotheses 
been  parallel.  At  the  time  of  its  issue  it  created  quite  a  stir  in  court  and 
,  military  circles  and  gave  rise  to  speculation  and  correspondence  generally. 
The  objection  which  many  saw  in  the  hereditary  features  was  eradicated. 
The  institution,  after  many  vicissitudes  through  upward  of  a  century, 
thrives  an  honored  reminiscence,  stimulating  the  spirit  of  patriotism  and 
vicing  in  commemorative  works. 

In  a  reply  to  a  letter  from  Samuel  Vaughan,  November  9,  1785,  General 
Washington  in  acknowledging  a  copy  of  Count  de  Mirabeau's  "  Consider 
ations  on  the  Order  of  Cincinnati,"  had  this  to  say: 

"  I  thought,  as  most  others  seemed  to  think,  that  all  the  exceptionable 
parts  of  that  institution  had  been  done  away  with  at  the  last  general  meet 
ing,  but  with  those  who  are  disposed  to  cavil  or  who  have  the  itch  of 
writing  strongly  upon  them,  nothing  can  be  made  to  suit  their  palates. 
The  best  way  therefore  to  disconcert  and  defeat  them  is  to  take  no  notice 
of  their  publication.  All  else  is  but  food  for  declaration. 

"There  is  not,  I  conceive,  an  unbiased  mind  that  would  refuse  officers 
of  the  late  army  the  right  of  association  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a 
fund  for  the  support  of  the  poor  and  distressed  of  their  fraternity,  when 
many  of  them  it  is  well  known  are  reduced  to  their  last  shifts  by  the  un 
generous  conduct  of  their  country  in  not  adopting  more  vigorous  measures 
to  render  their  certificates  productive.  That  charity  is  all  that  remains  of 
the  original  institution  none  who  will  be  at  the  trouble  of  examining  it 
can  deny." 

MIRABEAU   ANSWERED 

On  May  15,  1787,  General  Washington  mentions  in  his  diary  dining 
with  the  members  of  the  General  Society  of  Cincinnati  in  Philadelphia. 
Mr.  Jefferson,  then  minister  to  France,  had  sent  to  him  an  extract  from 
the  "Encyclopedic,"  purporting  to  give  an  account  of  the  Society  of  the 
Cincinnati. 


The  French  Society  of  the  Cincinnati          605 


In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Jefferson,  of  May  30,  1787,  he  pays  his  compliments 
in  a  general  way  to  the  comments  in  the  "Encyclopedic,"  observing, 
' '  Nothing  can  be  more  ridiculous  than  the  supposition  of  the  author 
that  the  society  was  instituted  partly  because  the  country  could  not  then 
pay  the  army,  except  the  assertion  that  the  United  States  have  now  made 
full  and  competent  provisions  for  paying  not  only  the  arrearages  due  to  the 
officers,  but  the  half  pay  or  commutation  at  their  option,  whence  the  author 
deduces  an  argument  for  its  dissolution.  Though  I  conceive  this  never 
had  anything  to  do  with  the  institution,  yet  the  officers  in  most  of  the 
States,  who  never  have  received  nor  I  believe  expect  to  receive  one  farth 
ing  of  the  principal  or  interest,  would  be  much  obliged  to  the  author  to 
convince  them  how  and  when  they  received  a  compensation  for  their 
services." 

The  General  then  gives  an  account  of  his  connection  with  the  society 
posterior  to  its  first  formation,  and  his  acceptance  of  the  presidency  after 
the  amendments  of  the  first  general  meeting  in  1784,  especially  after  the 
canceling  of  the  hereditary  features  had  been  approved  by  "the  most 
respectable  characters  in  the  country." 

The  following  officers  of  foreign  countries  held  general  rank  in  the 
Continental  army  under  commissions  from  Congress: 


Name. 

Date. 

Country. 

MAJOR-GENERALS. 

Lafayette 

July  31  1777 

France 

Do 

Baron  de  Kalb                              

Sept  15,  1777 

Do 

Dec    13  I77S 

Do 

Chevalier  Duportail  

Nov.  16,  1781 

Do. 

May     5  1778 

Prussia 

BRIGADIER-GENERALS. 

Baron  Steuben  

Mar.  16,  1776 

Prussia 

M  A   Roche  de  Fernay       .                           .  .                      . 

Nov      5  1776 

France 

Chevalier  Deborre  

Apr.   11,1777 

Do. 

Thomas  Con  way                   

May  13  1777 

Do  . 

Count  Pulaski 

Sept  15  1777 

Poland 

Chevalier  Duportail    

Nov    17  1777 

France. 

M  de  la  Neuville  (brevet) 

Oct     14  1778 

Do 

Marquis  de  la  Rouerie  Armand  

Mar.  26,  1783 

Do. 

Thaddeus  Kosciusko  (brevet)                   

Oct     13  1783 

Poland 

LIST  OF  WORKS  RELATING  TO  THE  FRENCH  ALLIANCE  IN  THE 
AMERICAN  REVOLUTION 


Compiled  by  A.  P.  C.  GRIFFIN,  Chief  Bibliographer  Library  of  Congress 

AFFAIRES  de  1'Angleterre  et  de  l'Ame*rique.     [t.  1-15.] 

Anvers,  i776-\J9\-     15  vols.  in  17.     Tables.     8°. 

BAI,CH,  Elise  Willing.  Marquis  de  Fleury,  lieutenant-colonel  in  the 
Continental  army. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  i,  Dec.,  1877,  pp.  724-726.) 

BAI,CH,  Thomas.     Les  Franfais  en  Ame'rique  pendant  la  guerre  de  1'inde1- 

pendance  des  Etats-Unis,  1777-1783. 

Paris:  A.  Sauton  ;  Philadelphia:  J.  B.  Lippincott  \etc.~},  1872.     viii, 
237pp.     Plates.     Portraits.     Folded  map.     8°. 

-  The  French  in  America  during  the  war  of  independence  of  the 
United  States,  1777-1783.     A  translation  ...  of  Les  Franfais  en 
Amerique  pendant  la  guerre  de  1'independance  des  Etats-Unis. 

Philadelphia:  Porter  &  Coates,  1891-1895.    2  vols.    Portrait.    Folded 
maps.     8°. 

Vol.  i  translated  by  Thomas  Willing  Balch;  v.  2,  by  Edwin  Swift  Balch 
and  Elise  Willing  Balch. 

BEAUMARCHAIS,  Pierre  Augustin  Caron  de.     Memoires. 

Paris:  Furne,  1826.    2  vols.     8°.     (CEuvres  completes  de  Beaumar- 
chais,  vol.  4-5.  ) 

BIRON,  [Armand  Louis  de  Gontaut]  due  de  Lauzun,  afterwards  due  de. 
Lettres  sur  les  Etats  ge'ne'raux  de  1789,  ou  Detail  des  stances  de 
1'assemblee  de  la  noblesse  et  des  trois  ordres,  du  4  mai  au  15 
novembre,  par  le  due  de  Biron,  due  de  Lauzun:  pre'ce'de'es  d'une 
notice  historique  sur  Biron  et  publie"es  par  Maistre  de  Roger  de  la 
Lande. 

Paris:  M™e  Bachelin-Deflorenne,  1865.     xxii,  (*),  68,  (/)  pp.     Por 
trait.     12°. 

-  Memoires  de  M.  le  due  de  Lauzun. 

Paris:  Chez  Barrois,  Vaine,  1822.     (2),  xx,  399  pp.     12°. 

-  Same.     2.  e"d. 


Paris:  Chez  Barrois,  Paine,  1822.     2  vols.     24°. 

607 


608     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

BIRON,  [Armand  Louis  de  Gontaut]  due  de  Lauzun,  afterwards  due  de. 
Memoires  du  due  de  Lauzun  (1747-1783).  Public's  entierement 
conformes  au  manuscrit,  avec  une  e*tude  sur  la  vie  de  1'auteur. 
2.  ed.  sans  suppressions  et  augmentee  d'une  preface  et  de  notes 
nouvelles  par  Louis  Lacour. 

Paris:  Poulet-Malassis  et  de  Broise,  1838.     (4),  Ixvii,  409,  (2)  pp. 
12°. 

-  Narrative  of  the  Duke  de  Lauzun.     Translated  for  the  magazine. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  6,  Jan.,  1881,  pp.  51-53.) 

BI^ANCHARD,  Claude.     Guerre  d'Ame'rique,  1780-1783.     Journal  de  cam- 

pagne. 
Paris:  L.  Baudoin  &  tie,  1881.     134  pp.     8°. 

-  The  journal  of  Claude  Blanchard,  commissary  of  the  French  aux 
iliary  army  sent  to  the  United  States  during  the  American  revolu 
tion.     1780-1783.     Translated    from    a    French   manuscript,   by 
William  Duane,  and  edited  by  Thomas  Balch. 

Albany:  J.  Munsell,  1876.     xvi,  207  pp.    .8°. 

The  journal  of  the  campaign  of  Claude  Blanchard,  commissary- 
general  to  the  auxiliary  troops  sent  to  America  under  the  com 
mand  of  Lieutenant-General  the  Count  de  Rochambeau.  1780- 

1783- 

(In  Catholic  world,  vol.  n,  Sept.,  1870,  pp.  787-800.) 
Translated  from  the  Revue  militaire  francaise. 


BRISSOT  DE  W^RViUvE,  J[ean]  P[ierre].  A  critical  examination  of  the 
marquis  de  Chatellux's  [sic]  Travels,  in  North'  America,  in  a  letter 
addressed  to  the  marquis  ;  principally  intended  as  a  refutation  of 
his  opinions  concerning  the  Quakers,  the  negroes,  the  people,  and 
mankind.  Tr.  from  the  French,  with  additions  and  corrections 
of  the  author. 
Philadelphia  :  J.  James  [printer]  ,  1788.  (  2  )  ,  89  pp  .  8°' 

-  De  la  France  et  des  Etats-Unis  ;  ou,  De  1'importance  de  la  re*vo- 
lution  de  I'Ame'rique  pour  le  bonheur  de  la  France  ;  des  rapports 
de  ce  royaume  et  des  Etats-Unis,  des  avantages  re"ciproques  qu'ils 
peuvent   retirer  de  leurs  liaisons   de  commerce,  et  enfin   de   la 
situation  actuelle  des  Etats-Unis.     Par  E.  Claviere,  et  J.  P.  Brissot 
(Warville).     Nouv.  eU 

[Paris:  Buisson,  1791.  ~}  (4],  448  pp.     8°.     (In  his  Nouveau  voyage 
dans  les  Etats-Unis.     Paris,  1791.     v.  3.) 

Half-title. 

-  Examen  critique  des  voyages  dans  TAm^rique  Septentrionale,  de 
M.  le  marquis  deChatellux  [sic];  ou,  Lettre  .  .  .  dans  laquelle  on 
refute  principalement  ses  opinions  sur  les  Quakers,  sur  les  negres, 
sur  le  peuple,  et  sur  l'homme. 

A  Londres,  1786.     (4),  143  pp.     8°. 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     609 

BROGUE,  Victor-Claude,  prince  de.  Journal  du  voyage  du  Prince  de 
Broglie,  Colonel  en  second  du  Regiment  de  Saintonge  aux  Etats- 
Unis  d'Amerique  et  dans  I'Amerique  du  Sud,  1782-1783. 

(In  Soci£t6  des  bibliophiles  fran£ois.  Melanges,  2.  partie,  pp.  13-148, 
Paris,  1903.  8°.) 

Narrative  of  the  Prince  de  Broglie,  1782.     Translated  from  the 

original  MS.,  by  B.  W.  Balch. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  i,  Mar.,  1877,  pp.  180-186;  Apr., 
1877,  pp.  231-235;  May,  1877,  pp.  306-309;  June,  1877,  pp.  374~380-) 

Translation  of  "Journal  du  voyage  du  Prince  de  Broglie,"  published 
in  Melanges  publics  par  la  Soci£t£  des  bibliophiles  francois  (deuxi£me 
partie).  1903. 

A  pen  portait  of  Washington.      Fragments  from  the  journal  of 
Prince  de  Broglie.     Tr.  by  Horatio  King. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  26,  Dec.,  1891,  pp.  439-442.) 

BYRN,  Edward  W.     The  unveiling  of  the  Rochambeau  statue. 

(In  Scientific  American,  n.  s.,  vol.  86,  May  31,  1902,  pp.  378-379.) 
CAMBON,    Jules   Martin.     France    and   the   United    States;    essays    and 

addresses. 
New  York:  D.  Appleton  and  company r,  1903.     viy  go  pp.     8°. 

"France  and  American  independence,"  pp.  74-79 ;  "Unveiling  of  the 
statue  of  Marshal  de  Rochambeau,"  pp.  80-83. 

CAMPBEI/IV,  Charles  A.  Rochambeau's  headquarters  in  Westchester 
county,  N.  Y.,  1781. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  4,  Jan.,  1880,  pp.  45-48.) 

CELESTE,  Raymond.     Un  petit-fils  de  Montesquieu  en  Ame"rique. 

Bordeaux:  Impr.  G.  Gounouilhou,  1902.    jo,  (2)  pp     Portrait.     8°. 
"Extraitdela  Revue  philomathique  de  Bordeaux  et  du  Sud-Ouest,  5* 
ann£e,  11°  12,  ier  d6cembre  1902." 

Better  of  Baron  Montesquieu  to  M.  Latapie,  dated  from  Newport,  29 
January  1781,  p.  18-24. 

CHASTEi/iyUX,  [Fran£ois  Jean],  marquis  de.  Travels  in  North-America, 
in  the  years  1 780,  1 78 1,  and  1782,  by  the  marquis  deChastellux  .  .  . 
Tr.  from  the  French  by  an  English  gentleman,  who  resided  in 
America  at  that  period.  With  notes  by  the  translator. 
London:  G.  G.  J.  and  J.  Robinson,  1787.  2  vols.  Folded  plate. 
Folded  maps.  8°. 

Travels  in  North- America,  in  the  years  1780-81-82  by  the  mar 
quis  de  Chastellux  ...     Tr.  from  the  French,  by  an  English  gen 
tleman,  who  resided  in  America  at  that  period.     With  notes  by 
the  translator.     Also  a  biographical  sketch  of  the  author;  letters 
from  Gen.  Washington  to  the  marquis  de  Chastellux,  and  notes 
and  corrections  by  the  American  editor. 

New  York,  1828.     416  pp.     8°. 

Voyage  de  Newport  a  Philadelphie,  Albany,  etc. 

Newport,  R.  I.:  De  Vimprimerie  Roy  ale  de  VEscadre,  1781.     188  pp. 

8°. 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 39 


6io     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

CHASTEI<I,UX,  [Francois  Jean],  marquis  de.     Voyage  de  Mr.  le  chevalier 

de  Chastellux  en  AmeVique. 
[Cosset],  1785.     228  pp.     1 6°. 

Voyages  de  M.  le  marquis  de  Chastellux  dans  1'Am^rique  Septen- 
trionale  dans  les  anne"es  1780,  1781  &  1782. 
Paris:  Prault,  1786.     2  vols.     Folded  maps.     12°. 

CHOTTEAU,  L,e"on.    I/a  guerre  de  1'independance  (1775-1783);  les  Fran£ais 

en  Amerique;  avec  une  preface  par  M.  Edouard  Laboulaye. 
Paris:  Charpentier  et  tie ,  1876.     4,  x,  (2),  438 pp.     12°. 

CIRCOURT,  Adolphe,  comte  de.    France  and  the  United  States.     Historical 

review. 
Boston:  Press  of J.  Wilson  and  son,  1877.    55  Pp.-  12°. 

Reprinted  from  the  Proceedings  of  the  Massachusetts  historical  society, 
vol.  15. 

The  French  original  was  published  as  an  appendix  to  vol.  2  of '  Histoire 
de  1'action  commune  de  la  France  et  de  I'Amerique  pour  1'inde'pendance 
des  Etats-Unis,  par  George  Bancroft,"  Paris,  1876. 

CI/ARK,  Richard  H.  France's  aid  to  America  in  the  War  of  Independ 
ence. 

(In  American  Catholic  quarterly  review,  vol.  22,  Apr.,  1897,  pp.  399-423.) 

CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS.     Journals  of  Congress:  containing  their  pro 
ceedings  from  September  5,  1774,  to  [November  3,  1788].     Pub 
lished  by  authority. 
«    From  FolwelPs  press,  Philadelphia,  1800-1801.     13  vols.     8°. 

Journals  of  Congress,  containing  the  proceedings  from  Sept.  5, 
1774,  to  Nov.  3,  1788.     2d  ed. 
Washington:  Way  &  Gideon,  1823.     4  vols.     8°. 

An  edition  of  the  Journals  printed  from  the  original  MSS.  is  in  course  of 
publication  by  the  library  of  Congress.  Six  volumes  have  been  pub 
lished,  covering  the  years  1774-1776. 

—  Secret  journals  of  the  acts  and  proceedings  of  Congress,  from  the 
first  meeting  thereof  to  the  dissolution  of  the  Confederation  by 
the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  [1775- 
1788.] 

Boston:   T.  B.  Wait,  1821.     4  vols.     8°. 

CONWAY,  Moncure  D.  French  aid  to  America  in  the  War  of  Indeperd- 
ence. 

(In  The  Athenaeum,  I,ondon,  Mar.  10,  1900,  pp.  305-307.) 

CORNWAI.US,  Charles  [Cornwallis]  ist  marquis.  Correspondence  of 
Charles,  first  marquis  Cornwallis.  Ed.  with  notes,  by  Charles 
Ross. 

London:  J.  Murray,  1859.  j  vols.  Portrait.  2 folded  maps.  Folded 
genealogical  table.  8°. 

The  French  alliance  with  America,  vol.  i,  pp.  32,  34,  50,  87,  115,  117,  121, 
122,  123,  125,  132,  133,  512. 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     611 

CROMOT   DUBOURG,    Marie-Franfois-Joseph-Maxime,   baron.     Diary  of  a 

French  offiper.  1781.     (Presumed  to  be  that  of  Baron  Cromot  Du 

Bourg,  aid  to  ROCHAMBEAU.)     From  an  unpublished  manuscript. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  4,  March,  1880,  pp.  205-214;  April 

1880,  pp.  293-308;  May,  1880,  pp.  376-385;  June,  1880,  pp.  441-449;  vol.  7,  Oct. 

1881,  pp.  283-295.) 

CUMMING,  W.  J.  French  hill  and  the  tradition  of  the  French  in  North 
ern  Westchester. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  5,  Dec.,  1880,  pp.  442-445.     Charts.) 

DEANE,  Silas.  An  address  to  the  United  States  of  North-America.  To 
which  is  added,  a  letter  to  the  Hon.  Robert  Morris,  esq.  with 
notes  and  observations. 

London,  yrintde:  New-London  [Conn.]  Reprinted  and  sold  by  T. 
Green,  1784.  38  pp.  12°. 

A  defence  of  the  author's  conduct  during  his  mission  to  France.  Dated, 
lyOndon,  August  10,  1783. 

Also  published  the  same  year  in  abridged  form,  without  the  appended 
documents,  under  title:  An  address  to  the  free  and  independent  citizens 
of  the  United  States  of  North-America. 

An  address  to  the  United  States  of  North  America.     To  which  is 

added,  a  letter  to  the  Hon.  Robert  Morris,  esq.,  with  notes  and 
observations. 

London:  Printed  f or  J.  Debrett,  1784.     (4],  95  pp.     8°. 

A  defence  of  the  author's  conduct  during  his  mission  to  France.  Dated, 
L,ondon,  August  io,  1783. 

Also  published  the  same  year  in  abridged  form,  without  the  appended 
documents,  under  title:  An  address  to  the  free  and  independent  citizens 
of  the  United  States  of  North  America. 

An  address  to  the  free  and  independent  citizens  of  the  United 

States  of  North-America. 

Hartford:  Printed  by  Hudson  &  Goodwin,  1784.    30  pp.     12°. 

Relates  to  his  conduct  while  commissioner  of  the  United  States  in 
France.  Dated,  London,  August  io,  1783.  Appendix  dated,  Condon, 

.  ,    '-  Oct.   12,    1783. 

Also  published  the  same  year  in  more  extended  form,  with  appended 
documents,  under  title:  An  address  to  the  United  States  of  North  America. 

The  Deane  papers  .  .  .   i774-[iybi]. 

[New  York:  Printed  for  the  Society,  1887-1890.'}  $vols.  Portrait. 
8°.  (Nezu  York  historical  society.  Collections  .  .  .  Publication 
fund  series,  v.  xix-xxiii. ) 

CONTENTS. — v.  i.  Biographical  notice  of  S.  Deane.  By  C.  Isham.  The 
Deane  papers.  1774-1777.— v.  2.  1777-1778.—%'.  3.  1778-1779.— v.  4.  1779- 
1781.— v.  5.  1782-1790. 

DEUX-PONTS,  Guillaume,  comte  de.     My  campaigns  in  America:  a  journal 

kept  by  Count  William  de  Deux-Ponts,  1780-81.     Translated  from 

the    French   manuscript,    with   an   introduction   and   notes,    by 

Samuel  Abbott  Green. 

Boston:  J.  K.  Wiggin  &  W.  P.  Lunt,  1868.     xvi,  (2),  176  pp.     8°. 

French  text  followed  by  English  translation. 


612     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

DONIOI,,  Henri,  i.  e.  Jean  Henri  Antoine.  Histoire  de  la  participation  de 
la  France  a  l'e"tablissement  des  Btats-Unis  d'Ame'rique.  Corre- 
spondance  diplomatique  et  documents. 

Paris:  hnprimerie  nationale,  1886-1892.    5  vols.     Plates.     Portraits. 
F°. 

Complement  du  tome  5. 

Paris:  Imprimerie  nationale,  1899.     (4],  ii,  259-397  pp.     F°- 
DURAND,  John,  ed.  and  tr.     New  materials  for  the  history  of  the  Ameri 
can  revolution;  tr.  frorii  documents  in  the  French  archives. 
New  York:  H.  Holt  &  co.,  1889.     vi,  (2),  311  pp.     12°. 
FEI/TMAN,  William.     The  journal  of  lyieut.  William  Feltman,  of  the  First 
Pennsylvania  regiment,  1781-82.     Including  the  march  into  Vir 
ginia  and  the  siege  of  Yorktown. 

Philadelphia:  Pub.  for  the  Historical  society  of  Pennsylvania,  by  H.  C. 
Baird,  1853.     48  pp.     8°. 

FERRIERE,  James  L.     The  Prince  de  Broglie  in  America. 

(In  lyippincott's  magazine,  vol.  28,  Nov.,  1881,  pp.  462-472.) 

FERSEN,  Count. 

(In  Temple  bar,  vol.  55,  Jan.,  1879,  pp.  76-90.) 

Same.    lyiving  Age,  vol.  140,  Feb.  8,  1879,  PP-  367~375- 

FERSEN,  [Hans]  Axel  von,  grefve.     Diary  and  correspondence  of  Count 
Axel  Fersen,  Grand  marshal   of  Sweden,  relating  to  the  court 
of  France.     Translated  by  Katharine  P.  Wormeley. 
Boston:  Hardy,   Pratt  &  company,    1902.     vii,   (j),  ^55  pp.     Por 
traits.     8°. 

"  Betters  to  his  father,  1780-1782,  during  the  French  war  in  North  Amer 
ica  in  aid  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States,"  pp.  21-64. 

FERSEN,  [Hans]  Axel  von,  grefve.  The  French  army  in  the  Revolu 
tionary  war.  Count  de  Fersen 's  private  letters  to  his  father, 
1780-81.  Translated  from  the  French  by  Georgine  Holmes. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  25,  Jan.,  1891,  pp.  55-70;    Feb., 
1891,  pp.  156-173.) 

Letters  of  De  Fersen,  aid-de-camp  to  Rochambeau,  written  to  his 

father  in  Sweden  1780-1782.     Translated  for  the  magazine. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  3,  April,  1879,  pp.  300-309;  June, 
1879,  pp.  369-376;  July,  1879,  PP-  437-448.) 

FoivSOM,  Albert  A.     Camp  of  the  French  army,  Dedham,  1782. 

(In  Dedham  historical  register,  vol.  12,  Jan.,   1901,  pp.  8-10.     Plan  (fac 
simile).     Dedham,  1901.    8°.) 

FOSDICK,  Lucien  J.     The  French  blood  in  America. 

New   York,   Chicago,   \etc.~\:    Fleming  H.    Revell  company,  [1906]. 
448pp.     Plates.     Portraits.     8°. 

"America's  debt  to  France  during  the  Revolution."     pp.  377-382. 

FRANCE.  Ministere  des  affaires  etrangeres.  lyes  combattants  francais 
de  la  guerre  americaine,  1778-1783.  Listes  £tablies  d'aprds  les 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     613 

documents  authentiques  de*pose"s  aux  Archives  nationales  et  aux 
Archives  du  Ministere  de  la  guerre.  Publie"es  par  les  soins  du 
Ministere  des  affaires  e"trangeres. 

Paris:  Ancienne  maison  Quantin,  Librairies-imprimeries  reunies, 
Motteroz,  Martinet,  1903.  (4],  xii,  (4],  327  pp.  Plates.  Por 
traits.  F°. 

Introduction  signed:  H.  M£rou,  consul  de  France  a  Chicago,  membre 
honoraire  de  la  Soci6t6  des  Fils  de  la  Revolution  am£ricaine  d' Illinois. 

Includes  a  resolution  of  thanks  by  the  society  of  the  Sons  of  the  Ameri 
can  Revolution  for  the  "exceedingly  advantageous  and  effective  work  .  .  . 
accomplished  in  France  in  ascertaining  the  names  and  services  of  ... 
French  sailors  and  soldiers  who  assisted  the  colonists  in  the  war  of  the 
American  Revolution." 

CONTENTS.  —  Introduction.—  L,istes.  Marine:  Escadre  du  comte  d'Es- 
taing.  Escadre  du  comte  de  Grasse.  Escadre  des  comtes  de  Guichen  et 
de  Grasse.  Escadre  du  comte  de  Ternay  (arm£e  de  Rochambeau — )Arm6e 
de  terre:  Regiment  de  Bourbonnais.  Regiment  de  Soissonnais.  R£gi- 
ment  de  Saintonge.  Regiment  de  Royal-Deux-Ponts  (officiers  seulement). 
Regiment  d'Ag£nois  (officiers  seulement).  Regiment  de  Gatinais.  R6- 
giment  de  Touraine.  Regiment  d'Hainault  (un  bataillon).  Regiment  de 
Foix  ( un  bataillon ) .  Regiment  de  Dillon  ( officiers  seulement ) .  Regiment 
de  Walsh  (officiers  seulement).  Regiment  d'Auxonne  (2*  bataillon).  R£- 
giment  de  Metz  (2*  bataillon). 

FRANCE.  Ministtre  des  affaires  Hrangeres.  Les  combattants  francais 
de  la  guerre  americaine,  1778-1783.  Listes  etablies  d'apres  les 
documents  authentiques  deposes  aux  Archives  nationales  et  aux 
Archives  du  Ministere  de  la  guerre.  Publie"es  par  les  soins  du 
ministere  des  affaires  e"trangeres. 

Washington:  Imprimerie  nationale,  1905.  ii,  453  pp.  Plates.  Por 
traits.  F° .  (\_U.  S.~\  $8th  Congress,  2d  session.  Senate  docu 
ment  77). 

Paris  edition  pub.  1903. 

FRANKUN,  Benjamin.  The  complete  works  of  Benjamin  Franklin, 
including  his  .  .  .  correspondence,  and  .  .  .  letters  and  docu 
ments  .  .  .  now  for  the  first  time  printed  .  .  .  also,  the  unmuti- 
lated  and  correct  version  of  his  autobiography.  Compiled  and 
edited  by  John  Bigelow. 

New  York  and  London:  G.  P.  Putnam's  sons,  1887-1888.  10  vols. 
Plates.  Portraits.  8°. 

Works.     Containing  several  political  and  historical  tracts  not  in 
cluded  in  any  former  edition,  and  many  letters,  official  and  private, 
not  hitherto  published;  with  notes  and  life,  by  Jared  Sparks. 
Boston:  Hilliard  Gray,  and  company,  1840.     10  vols.     8°. 

The  writings  of  Benjamin  Franklin;  collected  and  ed.,  with  a 
life  and  introduction,  by  Albert  Henry  Smyth.     Vols.  1-7. 
New  York,  London:    The  Macmillan  company,  1905-1906.     7  vols. 
Portrait.     8°. 


614     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

FRANKUN,  Benjamin.     Franklin  in  France.     A  selection  from  Franklin's 

letters,  written  during  his  stay  in  Paris. 

Boston:   Old  South  meeting  house,  1889.     12  pp.     12°.     (Old  South 
leaflets,  ?th  series,  no.  5. ) 

Caption-title. 

FRENCH  aid  in  American  Independence. 

(In  Atlantic  monthly,  vol.  74,  July,  1894,  pp.  128-133.) 
Review  of  Doniol's  "  Histoire  de  la   participation  de  la  France  a  l'£ta- 
blissement  des  IJtats-Unis  d'Am6rique." 

The  FRENCH  in  Newport,  1781,  1881. 

(In  Newport  historical  magazine,  vol.  2,  Jan.,  1882,  pp.  176-178.) 

GABRIEL,  [Charles  Nicolas].  Le  marechal  de  camp  Desandrouins,  1729- 
1792;  guerre  du  Canada  1756-1760;  guerre  de  1'independance 
americaine,  1780-1782. 

Verdun:  Impr.  Renve-Lallemant,  1887.     (4},  viii,  416,  (j)  pp.     8°. 
GARDNER,    Asa  Bird,  comp.       Disposition    and  order  of  battle   of    the 
allied  armies  on  the  march  from  Williamsburgh  to  the  siege  of 
York,  27th  September,  1781. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  7,  Oct.,  1881,  pp.  267-268.) 

GAULOT,  Paul.     A  friend  of  the  queen  (Marie- Antoinette — Count  de  Fer- 

sen).     From  the  French,  by  Mps.  Cashel  Hoey. 
London:   W.  Heinemann,  1894.     2  vols.     Portraits.     8°. 

Compiled  from  extracts  from  the  papers  of  Count  John  Axel  Fersen, 
grand  marshal  of  Sweden. 

GREENE,  George  Washington.     Historical  view  of  the  American  revolu 
tion. 
Boston:   Ticknor  &  Fields,  1865.     ix,  (2],  459  pp.     12°. 

"The  diplomacy  of  the  Revolution,"  pp.  173-209;  "The  foreign  element 
of  the  Revolution,"  pp.  282-319. 

GURNET,  Rachel.     The  Comte  de  Fersen. 

(In  Gentleman's  magazine,  n.  s.,  vol.  48,  Mar.,  1892,  pp.  295-306.) 
Same,     giving  Age,  vol.  193,  May  7,  1892,  pp.  368-374. 

HAI,E,  Edward  ^.,and  Edward  E.  HAI.E,//'.  Franklin  in  France.  From 
original  documents,  most  of  which  are  now  published  for  the  first 
time. 

Boston:  Roberts  brothers,  1887-1888.     2  vols.     Portraits.     8°. 
HAivi,,  William.     Junction  of  the  French  and  American  armies  at  Dobbs 
Ferry,  1781.     From  the  MSS.  of  General  William  Hall. 

(In  The  Spirit  of  '76,  vol.  4,  Aug.,  1898,  page  353.) 

HEATH,  William.  Memoirs  of  Major-General  Heath.  Containing  anec 
dotes,  details  of  skirmishes,  battles,  and  other  military  events, 
during  the  American  war.  Written  by  himself. 

Boston:  Printed  by  I.  Thomas  and  E.  T.Andrews,  1798.    388  pp.    S°. 
Heath's  memoirs  of  the  American  war.     Reprinted  from  the  orig 
inal  edition  of  1798.     With  an  introduction  and  notes  by  Rufus 
Rockwell  Wilson. 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     615 

New  York:  A.  Wessels  company,  1904.     435pp.     8°.     (Source  books 
of  American  history.} 

Marquis  de  Chastellux,  p.  278;  Count  D'Estaing,  pp.  200-202,  204,  205, 
207,  208,  213,  231,  235,  236,  237,  380,  412,  413;  Count  Deux-Ponts,  p.  285;  Count 
de  Grasse,  pp.  305,  311,  315,  319,  320,  327,  332,  343,  362;  Marquis  de  La  Fayette, 
pp.  208-212,  248,  259,  279,  285,  286,  288,  290;  Duke  de  Lauzun,  pp.  287,  310,  343; 
Marshal  de  Rochambeau,  pp.  257,  258,  266,  267,  270,  309,  364,  368,  369,  376; 
*  Chevalier  de  Ternay,  pp.  257,  258,  266,  267,  281. 

D'AUBERTEUII,,    [Michel  Rene"].      Essais  historiques  et  poli- 
tiques  sur  les  Anglo-  Americains. 

Bruxelles,    1781-1782.     4  pts.    in  2   vols.     Plate.     Portrait.     Maps. 
12°. 

Vol.  2  has  title:  Essais  historiques  et  politiques  sur  la  revolution  de 
1'Amerique  Septentrionale  .  .  .  Bruxelles  et  se  trouve  a  Paris,  chez  1'au- 
teur,  1782. 

Essais  historiques  et  politiques  sur  les  Anglo-Americains. 


Bruxelles,  1782.    4  pts.  in  2  vols.     Plate.     Portrait.     Maps.     4°. 

Vol.  2  has  title:  Essais  historiques  et  politiques  sur  la  revolution  de 
l'Am£rique  Septentrionale  .  .  .  Bruxelles  et  se  trouve  a  Paris,  chez 
1'auteur,  1782. 

-  List  of  French  officers  who  served  in  the  American  armies  with 
commissions  from  Congress  prior  to  the  treaties  made  between 
France  and  the  thirteen  United  States  of  America.  Reprinted 
from  Essais  historiques  el  [et]  politiques  sur  la  revolution  de 
1'Amerique,  by  Milliard  d'Auberteuil,  Paris,  1782. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  3,  June,  1879,  pp.  364-369.) 

HYDE,  M.  C.  Murray.     The  treaty  of  alliance  with  France. 
(In  The  Spirit  of  '76,  vol.  4,  Mar.,  1898,  pp.  195-197.) 

ISHAM,  Charles.     A  short  account  of  the  life  and  times  of  Silas  Deane. 

(In  American  historical  association.  Papers,  vol.  3,  pp.  40-47.  New 
York  and  London,  1889.  8°.) 

JOBEZ,  Alphonse.     La  France  sous  Louis  XVI.     II.  Necker  et  la  guerre 

d'Ame'rique  (1777-1784). 
Paris:  Didier  et  tie,    1881.     vii,  (/),  600  pp.     8°. 

[JOHNSTON,  H.  P.]     The  Franklin,  Rochambeau,  and  Force  papers. 
(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  8,  May,  1882,  pp.  346-350.) 

LA  LuzERNE,  Anne-Cesar  de.     Correspondence.      [Sept.,  i779~May,  1784.] 
(In  Sparks,  Jared.     Diplomatic  correspondence  of  the  American  revolu 
tion,  vol.  10,  pp.  361-500.     Boston,  1830.     8°.) 

LAUGEL,  A.     Count  Fersen. 

(In  Nation,  vol.  27,  Aug.  29,  1878,  pp.  128-129;  Sept.  5,  1878,  pp.  142-143.) 

L/AURENS,  John.  The  army  correspondence  of  Colonel  John  Laurens  in 
the  years  1777-8,  now  first  printed  from  original  letters  to  his  father, 
Henry  Laurens,  president  of  Congress;  with  a  memoir  by  Wm. 
Gilmore  Simms. 

New  York,  1867.     'viii,  \_9~\-25opp.     Portrait,     4°.     ([Bradford  club 
series,  no  /.]) 


616     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

LAUZUN,  Due  de. 

See   BIRON,    [Artnand   Louis    de   Gontaut]    due  de  Lauzun, 
afterwards  due  de. 

LAVERGNE,  Le"once  de.     Le  marquis  de  Chastellux. 

(In  I«e  Correspondant,  vol.  63,  Dec.,  1864,  pp.  766-800.     Paris,  1864.     8°.) 

The  Marquis  de  Chastellux. 

(In  Catholic  world,  vol.  i,  May,  1865,  pp.  181-194.) 
Abridged  from  I<e  Correspondant. 

LINTII,HAC,  Eugene  [Francois].     Beaumarchais  et  ses  ceuvres,  precis  de 

sa  vie  et  histoire  de  son  esprit,  d'apres  des  documents  ine"dits. 
Paris:  Hachette  &  de,  1887-.  ,  v,  447  pp.     Portrait.     Facsimile.     8°. 

LiST  of  French  officers  that  served  with  the  American  army. 

(In  Heitman,   Francis  B.     Historical  register  of  officers  of  the  Conti 
nental  army  during  the  War  of  the  kevolution,  April,  1775,  to  December, 

1783,  pp.  483-509.     Washington,  1893.     8°.) 

LODGE,  Henry  Cabot.  Rochambeau.  Address  delivered  at  the  unveiling 
of  the  statue  of  the  Comte  de  Rochambeau,  Washington,  May  24, 
1902. 

(In  his  Fighting  frigate  and  other  essays  and  addresses,  pp.  291-304, 
New  York,  1902.    8°. ) 

LOMENIE,  Louis  Leonard  de.     Beaumarchais  and  his  times.     Sketches  of 
French  society  in  the  eighteenth  century  from  unpublished  doc 
uments. 
London:  Abbey  and  co.,  1856.     4  vols.     12°. 

LOSSING,  B.  J.     Our  French  allies. 

(In  Harper's  new  monthly  magazine,  vol.  42,  Apr.,  1871,  pp.  753-763.) 

McM ASTER,  John  Bach.     With  the  fathers;  studies  in  the  history  of  the 

United  States. 
New  York:  D.  Appleton  and  company,  1896.     ix,334pp.     12°. 

Contains  a  chapter  on  Franklin  in  France. 

MASSACHUSETTS.     General  court.     Committee  on  libraries.     [Report  rela 
tive   to  a  memorial  of  the   Chevalier   de   St.  Sauveiir.] 
[Boston,  1905.]     24pp.     8°.     ([Massachusetts.     General  court,  1905] 
Senate  no.  336.} 

MATHER,  F.  J.,  jr.     Rochambeau. 

(In  The  Nation,  vol.  74,  May  29,  1902,  pp.  418-419.) 

MAY,  Max  B[enjamin].  France,  her  influence  and  aid  in  our  revolution 
ary  struggle. 

[Cincinnati:  University  press,  1902.}  23  pp.  8°.  (University  of 
Cincinnati.  Bulletin  no.  //  .  .  .  Publications  of  the  University 
of  Cincinnati,  ser.  n.  Vol.  //.) 

Bibliography,  p.  23. 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     617 

MAYER,  [Charles  Joseph].     Vie  publique  et  prive"e,de  Charles  Gravier, 
comte   de  Vergennes,    ministre   d'etat;    discours    couronnd    par 
l'Acade"mie  d'Amiens,  le  25  aout  1788. 
Paris:  Chez  Maradan,  1789.     (4),  226,  (2}  pp.     Portrait.     8°: 

MEI,UCK,  Andrew  D.     The  story  of  an  old  farm,  or  Life  in  New  Jersey  in 
the    eighteenth    century  .   .   .  with    a     genealogical     appendix. 
Somerville,  N.  J.:  Unionist  gazette,  1889.     xxiv,  (2),  743,   (1}  pp. 
Plates.     8°. 

Arrival  of  French  army,  p.  526. 

The  allied  armies  in  New  Jersey,  pp.  53I-541- 

METz-NoBi,AT,  A.  de.     Washington  et  Lafayette. 

(In  t,e  Correspondant,  vol.  37,  Feb.  25,  1856,  pp.  707-731.) 

MiCHEt,,  Jules.     Album  &  livre  d'or  des  fetes  franco-americaines  de  1900. 
Paris:  Librairie  des  "  Tablettes  du  xx*  siecle,"  1900.     (4],  60  pp. 
Illustrations  including  portraits.     4° . 

CONTENTS. — I.  Calibration  du  Decoration  day,  sur  la  tombe  de  I,afay- 
ette,  au  Cimeti£re  Picpus,  a  Paris,  le  30  mai. — II.  Inauguration  de  la  statue 
du  Mar£chal  de  Rochambeau,  place  Saint  Martin,  a  Vendome  (L,oir-et- 
Cher)  le  4  juin. — III.  Inauguration  de  la  statue  £questre  de  George  Wash 
ington,  offerte  a  la  France  par  les  dames  am6ricaines,  place  d'l£na,  a 
Paris,  le  3  juillet. — IV.  Inauguration  de  la  statue  £questre  du  g€n£ral  de 
Iyafayette,  offerte  a  la  France  par  la  jeunesse  scolaire  des  Etats-Uifis, 
square  du  Carrousel,  a  Paris,  le  4  juillet. 

MONUMENT  de  Rochambeau  a  Washington. 

(In  Revue  universelle,  vol.  2,  Chronique  universelle,  Mai,  1902,  pp.  19,  20.) 

The  MONUMENT  to  the  alliance.  I.  Reprint  of  the  Proceedings  of  Con 
gress,  1781  and  1880-81,  and  of  the  correspondence  of  Livingston 
and  Franklin,  and  of  Livingston  and  Luzerne.  2.  Description  of 
the  Franklin  medal,  Libertas  Americana. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  7,  Oct.,  1881,  pp.  302-307.) 

MORE,  Charles    Albert,  chevalier  de  Pontgibaud,  comte  de.     Memoires. 
(1758-1837.)     Publics  pour  la    Societe"   d'histoire  contemporaine 
par  Geoffrey  de  Grandmaison  &  le  cte.  de  Pontgibaud. 
Paris:  Alphonse  Picard  etfils,  1898.    (4),  343 pp.    Portraits.     Plates. 

8°. 
—     A  French  volunteer  of  the  war  of  Independence.     Translated  and 

edited  by  Robert  B.  Douglas. 

Paris:  Charles  Carrington ,  1898.    xi,  ( i ) ,  209 ,  ( 4 }  pp.    Portrait.     8° . 
NESMITH,    George   W.       Journal   of   Abbe"    Robin,    chaplain    of    Count 
Rochambeau's  army,  relating  to  the  Revolution. 
(In  Granite  monthly,  vol.  4,  July,  1881,  pp.  424-428.) 

NOAH,I,ES,  [Amblard  Marie  Raymond  Amede"e]    vicomte  de.     Marins  et 
soldats  fran?ais  en  Ame'rique  pendant  la  guerre  de  1'inde'pendance 
des  Etats-Unis  (1778-1783). 
Paris:  Perrinet  tie,  1903.    z>ii,4J9pp.    Portraits.    2  folded  maps.    8°. 


618     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

NORTH,  Frances  Pier-repent.     Newport  a  hundred  years  ago. 
(In  lyippincott's  magazine,  vol.  26,  Sept.,  1880,  pp.  331-362.) 

OUR  French  allies. 

(In  lyiterary  world  (Boston),  vol.  15,  Jan.  12,  1884,  pp.  3-4.) 
Review  of  Edwin  M.  Stone's  "  Our  French  Allies." 

PATTON,  Jacob  Harris.     The  campaign  of  the  allies. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  7,  Oct.,  1881,  pp.  241-266.) 

PORTER,  Robert  P.  The  national  loans  of  the  United  States  from  July  4, 
1776,  to  June  30,  1880.  Foreign  subsidies.  French  loan. 

(In  United  States.  Tenth  census,  1880,  vol.7,  Report  on  valuation,  tax 
ation,  and  public  indebtedness  in  the  United  States,  as  returned  at  the 
tenth  census  (June  i,  1880),  pp.  299-308.  Washington,  1884.  4°.) 

PUMPEI,I,Y,  J.    C.     Our   French  allies  in   the  Revolution,  and  other  ad 
dresses. 
Morristown,  N.J.,  [/&%>].     64pp.     12°.  '    . 

Our  French  allies  in  the  Revolution. 

(In  New  Jersey  historical  society.  Proceedings,  2d  ser.,  vol.  10,  pp.  145- 
169.  Newark,  N.  J.,  1890.  8°.) 

REVEL,  [Gabriel]  Joachim  du  Perron,  comte  &t.     Journal  particv/lierd'une 

,campagne  aux  Indes  Occidentales  (1781-1782). 
%  Paris:  H.  Charles-Lavauzelle  \_i8g8f}.     287 pp.  incl.  maps.     8°. 
RHODE  ISLAND.     Records  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence 
Plantations    in  New  England.     Ed.    by    John    Russell  Bartlett. 
Vol.  IX.     1780-1783. 
Providence:  Alfred  Anthony,  printer  to  the  State.  1864.     8°. 

Address  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Rhode  Island  to  General  Rocham 
beau,  page  158;  R'eply  of  General  Rochambeau  to  the  address  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  Rhode  Island,  note,  pp.  158-159;  Address  of  the  General  As 
sembly  of  Rhode  Island  to  Chevalier  De  Ternay,  page  160. 

ROBIN,  [Claude  C.],  abbe.  New  travels  through  North-America:  in 
a  series  of  letters;  exhibiting,  the  history  of  the  victorious  cam 
paign  of  the  allied  armies,  under  .  .  .  General  Washington,  and 
the  Count  de  Rochambeau,  in  the  year  1781.  Translated  from 
the  original  of  the  Abbe  Robin. 

Philadelphia:  Printed  and  sold  by  R.  Bell,  1783.     112 pp.     12°. 
Translated  by  Philip  Freneau. 

Same. 

Boston:  Printed  for  F.  Battelle,  1784.     95pp.     12°. 

Translated  by  Philip  Freneau. 

Nouveau  voyage  dans  1'Amerique  Septentrionale,  en  l'anne"e  1781; 
et  campagne  de  1'armee  de  M.  le  comte  de  Rochambeau. 
Philadelphie  et  Pans:  Moutard,  1782.     ix,  222pp.     8°. 

—     A  Frenchman's  estimate  of  Washington  in   1781.     Extract  of  a 

letter  from  Claude  C.  Robin. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  20,  Aug.,  1888,  pp.  137-139.) 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     619 

ROCHAMBKAU,  Jean  Baptiste  Donatien  de  Vimeur,  comte  de.     Me"nioires 
militaires,  historiques  et  politiques  de  Rochambeau,  ancien  mare- 
chal  de  France. 
Paris:  Fain  &  Magrinel,  1809.     2  z>ols.  '  Plates.     8°. 

Memoirs  relative  to  the  war  of  independence  of  the  United  States. 

Extracted  and  translated  from  the  French  by  M.  W.  E.  Wright. 

Paris:  At  the  French,  English,  and  American  library,  1838.  (</), 
1 14  pp.  Portraits.  8°. 

—  An  account  of  the  operations  of  the  French  army  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  during  the  war  of  their  independence.  Trans 
lated  from  the  French. 

(In  American  register,  ed.  by  R.  Walsh,  vol.  2,  pp.  156-182.) 

Correspondance  du  Comte  de  Rochambeau  depuis  le  de"but  de  son 

commandement  aux  Etats-Unis  jusqu'  a  la  fin  de  la  campagne"  de 
Virginie. 

(In  Doniol,  H.  Histoire  de  la  participation  de  la  France,  vol.  5,  pp.  309- 
590.     Paris,  1892.     F°.) 

Operations  of  Rochambeau's  corps.     Substance  of  a  French  jour 
nal  [by  Rochambeau]. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  7,  Sept.,  1881,  pp.  224-226. ) 

ROSENGARTEN,  Joseph  G[eorge].     The  Chateau  de  Rochambeau.     Read 

before  the  American  philosophical  society,  December  21,  1894. 
[Philadelphia],  1895.    353-361  pp.     Portrait.     8°. 
Cover-title. 

"Reprinted  from  theVroceedings  of  the  American  philosophical  society, 
vol.  xxxin,  January  16,  1895." 

General  Comte  de  Rochambeau. 

(In  American  historical  register,  vol.  3,  Oct.,  1895,  pp.  195-208.     Portraits.) 

RUSSET,  Charles  Rowland.     The  French  alliance,  address  delivered  be 
fore  the  Rhode  Island  State  society  of  the  Cincinnati,  at  the  State 
house,  at  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  on  July  4,  1904. 
New  York:  {The  De  Vinne  press],  1904.    32pp.     8°. 

SACKVII^E,  George  Sackville  Germain,  ist  viscount.     Correspondance  du 
Lord  G.  Germain,   avec  les  Gene"raux  Clinton,  Cornwallis  et  les 
amiraux   dans  la  station  de  1'Ame'rique,    avec   plusieurs   lettres 
intercepted  du  Ge"ne"ral  Washington,  du  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  &. 
de  M.  de  Barras,  chef  d'Escadre.     Traduit  de  1' Anglais  sur  les 
originaux  publics  par  ordre  de  la  Chambre  des  pairs. 
Berne-.  Chez  la  Nouvelle  societi  typographique ,  1782.     xvi,  304  pp. 
2  folded  sheets.     8°. 

SAINTE-BEUVE,  C.  A.     Le  due  de  Lauzun. 

(In  tits  Causeries  du  I,undi,  vol.  4,  pp.  218-233.     Paris,  1851.     12°.) 


620     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

SE<iUR,  Philippe-Henri,  marquis  de.  Extraits  de  lettres  ecrits  d'Ameri- 
que  par  le  comte  de  Segur,  colonel  en  second  du  regiment  de 
Soissonnais  a  la  Comtesse  de  Se"gur,  dame  de  Madame  Victoire, 
1782-1783. 

(In  Soci6t6  des  bibliophiles  francois.     Melanges,  2.    partie,  pp.  149-200. 
Paris,  1903.     8°.) 

SHELDON,  Laura  Charlotte.     France  and  the  American  revolution,  1763- 

1778. 

Ithaca,  N.  Y.:  Andrus  &  Church,  i9oo.     (6),  83 pp.     8°. 
"A  list  of  the  authorities  cited: "  p.  [77] -79. 

SOCIETY  OF  THE  CINCINNATI,  New  York.     Dinner  in  honor  of  the  offi 
cial  delegates  from  France  to  the  United  States,  on  the  occasion  of 
the  dedication,  at  Washington,  of  the  statue  of  Count  de  Rocham- 
beau  .   .   .  and  of  the  representatives  of  the  families  of  Rocham- 
beau  and  Lafayette,  given  by  members  of  the  order  of  the  Cincin 
nati  residing  in  "New  York,  May  twenty-seventh,  1902. 
[New  York:  Printed  by  T.  D.  Rich,  1902.-]     (8),  pp.     8°. 
CONTENTS.— Menu.— Toasts.— Official  guests. 

SOCIETY  OF  THE  FRIENDLY  SONS  OF  SAINT  PATRICK  in  the  city  of  New 

York.     Proceedings  at  the  dinner  to  the    Rochambeau   special 

mission  given  by  the  Friendly  sons  of  St.  Patrick  at  Delmonico's 

May  29,  1902. 

[New   York:  Press  of  W.  P.  Mttchell  &  sons,  1903?]     (4],  79  pp. 

Illustrations.     Plates.     Portraits.     12°. 

SouLESf  Francois.     Histoire  des  troubles  de  I'Amerique  anglaise. 
Paris:  Buisson,  1787.     4  vols.     Folded  maps.     12°. 

Vollstandige  Geschichte  der  Revolution  in  Nord-Amerika.     Aus 

dem  Franzosischen  des  Franz  Soules,  von  Karl  Hammerdorfer. 
Zurich:  Orel  I,  Gessner,  Fussli  &  comp. ,  1788:     2  vols.     Folded  map. 

12°. 

SPARKS,  Jared,  ed.     Correspondence  of  the  American  revolution;  being 
letters  of  eminent  men  to  George  Washington  from  the  time  of 
his  taking  command  of  the  army  to  the  end  of  his  presidency. 
Ed.  from  the  original  manuscripts. 
Boston:  Little,  Brown  and  company,  1853.     4  vols.     8°. 

STEVENS,  John  Austin.     The  French  in  Rhode  Island;  with  appendix. 
(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  3,  July,  1879,  PP-  385-436.) 
Appendix:  List  of  the  French  fleet  at  Rhode  Island  under  Admiral  de 
Ternay  and  M.  Destouches.     Officers  of  the  French  army  in  America  under 
the  Count  de  Rochambeau.    Quarters  occupied  within  the  town  of  Newport 
by  the  army  under  the  command  of  the  Count  de  Rochambeau  in  winter 
quarters,  1780-1781.    Regiments  quartered  in  the  town.     Quarters  assigned 
within  the  town  of  Providence  to  the  army  under  the  command  of  the  Count 
de  Rochambeau,  1782.    Resolutions  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newport  in  town 
meeting  and  replies  of  Rochambeau.     Inscription  over  the  monument  to 
Admiral  de  Ternay  erected  in  the  Trinity  church-yard,  Newport,  by  order 
x      of  the  King  of  France,  1783. 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     621 

STEVENS,  John  Austin.     The  operations  of  the  allied  armies  before  New 
York,  1781;  with  appendix.     Maps. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  4,  Jan.,  1880,  pp.  1-45.) 
The  appendix,  pp.  32-45  contains  The  march  of  the  French.  The  attempt 
on  the  British  posts  at  Kingsbridge  July  3,  1781,  including  orders  of  Wash 
ington,  Washington's  official  report,  Washington's  account  in  his  diary, 
From  Doctor  Thacker's  diary,  Narrative  of  the  Duke  de  L,auzun,  and  the 
British  account.  The  reconnoissance  in  force  of  the  New  York  defenses, 
July  22,  1781.  The  march  of  the  allies  to  King's  Ferry,  and  Almanac  for 
New  York,  1781. 

-     The  return  of  the  French,  1782-83;  with  an  appendix. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  7,  July,  1881,  pp.  1-35.) 
The  appendix  contains  the  following  documents:  i.  Correspondence  of 
Washington  and  Count  de  Grasse;  2.  Washington  and  L,afayette;  3.  Wash 
ington  and  Count  de  Rochambeau;  4.  -Washington  and  the  French  officers; 
5.  Addresses  to  the  French  officers;  6.  Miscellaneous  documents.  Illustrated 
by  a  steel  etched  portrait  of  the  Chevalier  de  Chastellux;  three  maps 
showing  the  march  and  encampments  of  the  French;  a  table  of  the 
marches  and  encampments,  with  distances  traveled  by  the  French,  and 
an  emblematic  view  of  the  national  standards  of  the  United  States  and 
France  in  1781. 

The  route  of  the  allies  from  King's  Ferry  to  the  Head  of  Elk. 
(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  5,  July,  1880,  pp.  1-20.     Maps.) 

Charles  J[aneway].     Beaumarchais  and  "the  lost  million."     A 
chapter  of  the  secret  history  of  the  American  revolution. 
Philadelphia:  Privately  printed,  1890.    51  pp.     8°. 

Comte  de  Broglie  the  proposed  stadtholder  of  America. 


(In  Pennsylvania  magazine  of  history  and  biography,  vol.  n,  Jan.,  1888, 
pp.  369-405.) 

STONE,  Edwin  Martin.  Our  French  allies.  Rochambeau  and  his  army, 
Lafayette  and  his  devotion,  D'Estaing,  De  Ternay,  Barras,  De 
Grasse,  and  their  fleets,  in  the  great  war  of  the  American  revolu 
tion,  from  1778  to  1782,  including  military  operations  in  Rhode 
Island,  the  surrender  of  Yorktown,  sketches  of  French  and  Ameri 
can  officers,  and  incidents  of  social  life  in  Newport,  Providence, 
and  elsewhere. 

Providence:  Printed  by  the  Providence  press  co.,  1884  [1883}.     xxxi, 
632  pp.     Illustrations.     Plates.     Portraits.     Maps.    8°. 

SUMNER,  Charles.     Benjamin  Franklin  and  John  Slidell,  at  Paris. 

(In  his  Complete  works,  Statesman   ed.,  vol.   10,  pp.    221-258.     Boston, 
1900.    g°.) 

TRESCOT,  William  Henry.     The  diplomacy  of  the  revolution:  an  historical 

study. 

New  York:  D.  Appleton  &  co.,  1852.     viii,  (2),  169  pp.     12°. 
"Negotiation  with  France."     pp.  15-58. 

VAN  RENSSEI.AER,  [May  (King)],  "Mrs.  J.  K.  Van  Rensselaer."  New 
port:  our  social  capital. 


622     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

Philadelphia  and  London:  "J.  P.  Lippincott  company,  1905,  //,  (/), 
.17-401,  (/)  pp.  Colored  frontispiece.  Illustrations.  52  Plates. 
4  maps  (2  folded  in  pocket] .  4°. 

"  Newport  during  the  war,"  pp.  173-201;  "  British  and  French  occupation 
of  Newport,"  pp.  203-220. 

WASHINGTON,  George.  The  writings  of  George  Washington;  being  his 
correspondence,  addresses,  messages,  and  other  papers,  official  and 
private,  selected  and  published  from  the  original  manuscripts;  with 
a  life  of  the  author,  notes  and  illustrations.  By  Jared  Sparks. 
Boston:  American  stationers'  company;}.  B.  Russell  [etc.],  1834-1837. 
12  vols.  Plates.  5 portraits  (including  frontispieces  v.  1-3,12). 
25  maps  and 'plans.  3  facsimiles.  4°. 

Contains  the  correspondence  of  Washington  and  L,afayette,-  Rochatn- 
beau,  Count  de  Grasse,  etc. 

Vol.  7,  appendix,  pp.  477-506,  French  army  in  America  under  the  com 
mand  of  Count  de  Rochambeau";  pp.  509-510,  "  Memorandum  for  concert 
ing  a  plan  of  operations  with  the  French  army  ";  pp.  511-512,  "  I,etter  from 
Count  de  Rochambeau  to  General  Washington,  on  the  arrival  of  tne 
French  army  at  Newport";  pp.  515-520,  "  Interview  between  the  French 
commanders  and  the  Marquis  de  I^afayette  at  Newport." 

. The  writings  of  George  Washington;  collected  and  ed.  by  Worth  - 

ington  Chauncey  Ford. 
New  York  &  London:  G.  P.  Putnam1  s  sons,  1 889-1 8g3.     14  vols.     8°. 

Lettres  inedites  du  General  Washington  au  Marquis  de  Chastellux. 

(In  L,e  Correspondant,  vol.  65,  June,  1865,  pp.  426-443.) 

Washington's  journal.     From  the  Library  of  the  Department  of 

State  at  Washington.     May  to  Nov.,  1781. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  6,  Feb.,  1881,  pp.  108-125;  vol.  7 
Aug.,  1881,  pp.  122-133;  vol.  20,  July,  1888,  pp.  56-60.) 

WHARTON,  Francis.  The  revolutionary  diplomatic  correspondence  of  the 
United  States.  Ed.  under  direction  of  Congress  by  Francis 
Wharton,  with  preliminary  index,  and  notes  historical  and  legal. 
Pub.  in  conformity  with  act  of  Congress  of  August  13,  1888. 
Washington:  Government  printing  office,  1889.  6  vols.  8°.  \$oth 
Congress,  ist  session.  House  miscellaneous  document  603. ) 

WOODBURN,  James  Albert.     France  in  the  American  revolution. 
(In  Chautauquan,  vol.  25,  June,  1897,  pp.  247-252.) 

UNITED   STATES   GOVERNMENT   DOCUMENTS 

[The  numerals  at  the  end  of  the  titles  are  the  serial  numbers  used  in  the  check  list 
of  documents,  published  by  the  Superintendent  of  Documents.] 

1818.     Message   from  the   President,   transmitting  sundry  documents   in 
relation  to  the  claim  of  representatives  of  Caron  de  Beaumar- 
chais.     January  16,  1818.     14  pp.     8°. 
i$th  Congress,  ist  session.     State  papers,  no.  53. 

7 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     623 

1818.  Petition  and  documents  in  the  case  of  Mons.  Poirey.  Referred  to 
the  Committee  on  pensions  and  revolutionary  claims.  January 
14,  1818.  Bill  reported  making  provision  for  the  claim  of  M. 
Poirey.  March  28,  1818.  6pp.  8°. 

i 5th  Congress,  ist  session.     State  papers,  no.  178. 

ii 

Secretary  and  aid-de-camp  to  General  Iyafayette. 

1825.  Resolution  of  the  general  assembly  of  the  State  of  Indiana  in  refer 
ence  to  Major-General  Lafayette.  February  15,  1825.  5  pp.  8°. 

i8th  Congress,  2d  session.     State  papers,  no.  84. 

117 

1834.     Message  from  the  President,  announcing  the  death  of  Lafayette. 

June  21,  1834.     2  pp.     8°. 
23d  Congress,  ist  session.     Senate  document  no.  466. 

243 

1834.     Count  de  Rochambeau — granddaughters    of.      Message    from   the 
President,  transmitting  a  memorial  from  the  granddaughters  of 
the  Count  de  Rochambeau.     June  21,  1834.     7  pp.     8°. 
2$d  Congress,  ist  session.     House  executive  document  no.  494. 

259 

1834.     Death  of  Lafayette.     Message  from  the  President,  transmitting  in 
formation  of  the  death  of  General  Lafayette,  &c.     June  21,  1834. 
2  pp.     8°. 
2jd  Congress,  ist  session.     House  executive  document  no.  495. 

259 

1834.  Oration  on  the  life  and  character  of  Gilbert  Motier  de  La  Fayette: 
Delivered  at  the  request  of  both  Houses  of  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  before  them,  in  the  House  of  Representatives  at 
Washington,  on  the  3ist  of  December,  1834.  By  John  Quincy 
Adams. 
2$d  Congress,  2d  session.  Journal  of  the  House,  1834-1835,  pp.  657- 

689. 

270 

1834.  Bequest  of  Lafayette.  Message  from  the  President,  transmitting  an 
engraved  copy  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  bequeathed 
by  the  late  General  Lafayette  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 
December  4,  1834.  2  pp.  8°. 

23d  Congress,  2d  session.     House  executive  document  no.  7. 

271 

1834.  Lafayette.  Message  from  the  President,  transmitting  the  reply  of 
George*  W.  Lafayette  on  the  subject  of  the  resolution  of  Congress 
in  relation  to  the  decease  of  his  father,  General  Lafayette.  De 
cember  15,  1834.  2  pp.  8°. 

23d  Congress,  2d  session.     House  executive  document  no.  26. 

272 


624     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

1835.  Rochambeau — grand-daughters  of  Marshal  de.     Message  from  the 

President,  transmitting  documents  in  relation  to  the  claim  of  the 
grand-daughters  of  the  Marshal  de  Rochambeau.     January  31, 
1835.     7  pp.     8°. 
23d  Congress,  2d  session.     House  executive  document  no.  114. 

273 

1836.  Marshal  Rochambeau — Heirs  of.     Report  from  the  Committee  on 

revolutionary  claims.     February  10,  1836.     2*pp.     8°. 
24th  Congress,  ist  session.     House  report  no.  307. 

293 

1837.  Report  from  the  Committee  of  claims,  to  whom  was  referred  the 

petition  of  Francis  Allym     January  13,  1837.     3  pp.     8°. 

24th  Congress,  2d  session.     Senate  document  no.  64. 

298 

"  Recommends  partial  allowance  6f  claim  for  payment  for  use  of  his 
vessel  in  the  transportation  to  this  country  of  General  lyafayette." 

1837.  Francis  Allyn.     Report  from  the  Committee  of  claims,  to  which  was 

referred  the  bill  from  the  Senate  for  the  relief  of  Francis  Allyn. 
March  3,  1837.     2  pp.     8°. 

24th  Congress,  2d  session.     House  report  no.  326. 

306 

The  bill  provides  "that  there  be  paid,  ...  to  Francis  Allyn,  of  the  ship 
Cadmus,  in  full  compensation  for  bringing  General  I,afayette  and  his 
family  from  France  to  the  United  States,  in  the  year  1824,  the  sum  of  one 
thousand  dollars,  in  full  for  his  time,  services,  and  expenses,  as  master  of 
the  same  ship." 

1838.  Memorial  of  the  granddaughters  of  Marshal  Rochambeau,  in  rela 

tion  to  their  claim  for  remuneration  for  his  -services  during  the 
war  of  the  revolution.     July  7,  1838.     4  pp.     8°. 
25th  Congress,  2d  session.     Senate  document  no.  505. 

319 

1838.     Marshal  Rochambeau.     Report  from  the  Committee  on  revolution 
ary  claims.     January  n,  1838.     6  pp.     8°. 
2$th  Congress,  2d  session.     House  report  no.  363. 

334 
"  Memorial  of  the  granddaughters  of  the  Marshal  Rochambeau." 

1842.  Capt.  Francis  Allyn.  Report  from  the  Committee  of  claims,  to 
whom  was  referred  the  petition  of  Captain  Francis  Allyn,  in  be 
half  of  himself  and  the  owners  of  the  ship  Cadmus.  February  9, 
1842.  3  pp.  8°, 

27th  Congress,  2d  session.     House  report  no.  56. 

407 

1842.     Marquis  de  la  Gorce  and  the  Countess  d'Ambrugeac,  grand-daugh 
ters  of  Count  Rochambeau.     Report  from  the  Committee  on  rev 
olutionary  claims.     August  20,  1842.     10  pp.     8°. 
zjth  Congress,  2d  session.     House  report  no.  1071. 

4" 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     625 

1846.     Heirs  of  Marshal   Rochambeau.     Report  from  the  Committee   on 

revolutionary  claims.     February  10,  1846.     7  pp.     8°. 
29th  Congress,  ist  session.     House  report  no.  201 . 

488 

1849.     Francis  Allyn — Lafayette's  passage  to  America.     Report  from  the 

Committee  on  claims.     January  3,  1849.     I0  PP-     8°. 
3oth  Congress,  2 d  session.     House  report  no.  12. 

545 

1858.  Report  from  the  Committee  on  private  land  claims,  to  whom  was 
referred  the  "memorial  of  Joseph  Menard,  praying  to  be  allowed 
to  relocate  certain  warrants  for  land  granted  to  the  late  Marquis 
de  Lafayette, of  which  he  is  the  assignee."  January  20,  1858.  2 
pp.  8°. 
3^th  Congress,  ist  session.  Senate  report  no.  14. 

938 

1858.  Relocation  of  land  warrants  granted  to  General  Lafayette.  Report 
from  the  Committee  on  public  lands.  May  29,  1858.  2  pp.  8°. 

35th  Congress,  ist  session.     House  report  no.  436. 

967 

Report  referringto  "memorial  of  Joseph  Menard,  praying  to  be  allowed 
to  relocate  certain  warrants  for  land  granted  to  the  late  Marquis  de  I,a- 
fayette,  of  which  he  is  the  assignee." 

:86o.  Report  from  the  Committee  on  private  land  claims,  to  whom  was 
referred  the  petition  of  Joseph  Menard,  praying  to  be  allowed  to 
relocate  certain  land  warrants.  April  5,  1860.  2  pp.  8°. 

36th  Congress,  ist  session.     Senate  report  no.  174. 

1039 

1882.  Report  from  the  Joint  committee  on  the  library.  February  20, 
1882.  3  pp.  8°. 

4jth  Congress,  ist  session.     Senate  report  no.  187. 

2004 

Report  on  the  Senate  resolution  of  Oct.  25,  1881,  relative  to  the  purchase 
of  the  Rochambeau  papers. 

1890.     Report  from   the   Committee   on   the   library.     June   5,    1890.      3 

PP-     8°. 
5 ist  Congress,  ist  session.     Senate  report  no.  1301. 

3709 

Report  on  the  Senate  resolution  "to  ascertain  and  report  to  the  Senate 
by  what  authority  the  public  square  north  of  the  Executive  Mansion  has 
been  selected  for  the  site  of  the  proposed  monument  to  General 
L,afayette." 

1890.  La  Fayette  monument.  A  communication  from  the  Secretary  of 
war  and  Chairman  of  the  commission  on  the  erection  of  a  monu 
ment  to  General  La  Fayette,  requesting  that  an  appropriation  be 
made  to  enable  the  commission  to  carry  into  effect  the  provisions 
of  the  concurrent  resolution  of  Congress,  passed  August  28,  1890, 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 40 


626     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

changing  the  site  of  said  monument.     September   10,   1890.     I 
page.     8°. 
$ist  Congress,  ist  session.     House  executive  document  no.  465. 

2753 

1892.     Dedication  of  Lafayette  statue.     Report  from  the  Committee  on  the 
library.     June  15,  1892.     i  page.     8°. 

52d  Congress,  ist  session.     House  report  no.  1644. 

3048 

1900.     Woman  commissioner  at  the  Exposition  in  Paris,  France,  in  1900. 
Report  from   the  Committee   on  foreign   affairs.     February  21, 
1900.     i  page.     8°. 
Congress,  ist  session.     House  report  no.  384. 


1900.  Compensation  of  woman  commissioner  to  Paris  Exposition,  1900. 
Letter  from  the  Secretary  of  the'  treasury,  transmitting  an  esti 
mate  of  appropriation  for  compensation  of  woman  commissioner 
to  unveiling  of  statue  of  Lafayette  at  Paris  Exposition.  April 
17,  1900.  i  page.  8°. 
$6th  Congress,  ist  session.  House  document  no.  614. 

3997 

1900.     Statue  of  Lafayette  at  Paris,  France.     Report  from  the  Committee 

on  foreign  affairs.     May  28,  1900.     i  p.     8°. 
$6th  Congress,  ist  session.     House  report  no.  1809. 

4027 

1900.  Statue  of  Lafayette  at  Paris.     Message  from  the  President,  trans 

mitting  a  report  respecting  the  unveiling,  at  Paris,  France,  on 
July  4,  1900,  of  the  statue  of  Lafayette,  provided  by  the  contribu 
tions  of  school  children  of  the  United  States.  December  12, 
1900.  6  pp.  8°. 

$6th  Congress,  2d  session.     House  document  no.  183. 

4148 

1901.  Bronze  replica  of  a  statue  to  General  Rochambeau.     Report  from 

the  Committee  on  the  library.     February  20,  1901.     3  pp.     8°. 

56th  Congress,  2d  session.     House  report  no.  2928. 

4214 

Favorable  report  that  $7,500  be  appropriated  for  the  purchase  of  a  statue 
of  Rochambeau. 

1902.  Statue  of  Rochambeau.     Letter  from  the  Secretary  of  the  treasury, 

transmitting  a  copy  of  a  communication  from  the  Secretary  of 
war,  submitting  an  estimate  of  appropriation  for  the  preparation 
of  a  site,  etc.,  for  a  statue  of  Rochambeau.     January  9,  1902.. 
5?th  Congress,  ist  session.     House  document  no.  213. 

4337 

1902  Unveiling  of  the  Rochambeau  monument  in  Washington.  Report 
from  the  Committee  on  appropriations.  March  13,  1902.  i  page, 
8°. 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     627 

57th  Congress,  ist  session.     House  report  no.  050. 

4402 

Favorable  report  on  the  resolution  authorizing  and  requesting  the  Presi 
dent  to  extend  to  the  Government  and  people  of  France  and  the  family  of 
General  de  Rochambeau  an  invitation  to  join  in  the  dedication  of  the 
monument  of  General  de  Rochambeau. 

1902.     Statue  of  Rochambeau.     Report  from  the  Committee  on  ways  and 

means.     April  21,  1902.     2  pp.     8°. 
57th  Congress,  ist  session.     House  report  no.  1708. 

4404 

"This  resolution  proposes  to  admit  free  of  duty  the  replica  of  the 
bronze  statue  of  Rochambeau." 

1902.  Dedication  of  the  statue  of  Rochambeau.  Letter  from  the  Secre 
tary  of  the  treasury,  transmitting  a  copy  of  a  communication 
from  the  Secretary  of  state  submitting  an  additional  estimate  of 
appropriation  for  dedication  of  statue  of  Rochambeau.  April  29, 
1902.  2  pp.  8°. 
57th  Congress,  ist  session.  House  document  no.  583. 

1377 

1902.  Selection  of  a  site  and  erection  of  a  statue  of  Marshal  de  Rocham 

beau.     Letter  transmitting  the  report  of  the  Committee  to  whom 
was  committed  ...  the  selection  of  a  site  and  the  supervision 
of  the  erection  thereon  of  a  statue  of  Marshal  de  Rochambeau, 
and  of  the  unveiling  of  said  statue.     May  21,  1902.     2  pp.     8°. 
57th  Congress,  ist  session.     Senate  document  no.  362. 

4245 

1903.  Marble  bust  of  General  Lafayette.     Report  from  the  Committee  on 

the  library.     January  20,  1903.     5  pp.     8°. 

57th  Congress,  2d  session.     Senate  report  no.  2544. 

4410 

1903.  Proceedings  upon  the  unveiling  of  statue  of  Count  de  Rochambeau. 

Report   from   the   Committee  on  printing.     February   26,   1903. 
i  page.     8°. 
57th  Congress,  2d  session.     House  report  no.  3895. 

4415 

1904.  Report  of  proceedings   on  the   unveiling  of  statue   of   Count  de 

Rochambeau.     Report  from  the  Committee  on  printing.    January 
26,  1904.     i  page.     8°. 

58th  Congress,  zd  session.     House  report  no.  553. 

4578 

i  )<>4.     Translation  of  ' '  Les  combattants  fran£ais  de  la  guerre  ameYicaine, 
1778-1783."     Report  from  the  Committee  on  printing,     April  26, 
1904.     i  page.     8°. 
58th  Congress,  2d  session.     House  report  no,  2940. 

4584 

1905.  Les  combattants  franfais  de  la  guerre  ame'ricaine,  1778-1783.     Listes 

etablies  d'apres  les  documents  authentiques  deposes  aux  Archives 
nationales  et  aux  Archives  du  Ministere  des  affaires  e"trangeres. 


62 8     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

Washington:  Imprimerie  nationale,  1905.     (2),  453  pp.     Plates.     4°. 
$8th  Congress,  2d  session.     Senate  document  no.  77. 

4595 

1905.  Proceedings  in  connection  with  the  formal  presentation  of  a  repro 
duction  of  a  bust  of  Washington  by  certain  citizens  of  the  Republic 
of  France. 

Washington:  Government  printing  office,  1905.     45pp.     2 plates.     8°. 
$8th  Congress,  jd  session.     Senate  report  no.  4397. 

MARQUIS   DE  LAFAYETTE — WRITINGS 

,  Marie  Joseph  Paul  Roch  Yves  Gilbert  de  Motier,  Marquis  de. 
Correspondance  ine"dite  de  La  Fayette.  Lettres  e"crites  au  Comte 
D'Bstaing  pendant  la  campagne  du  vice-amiral  de  la  Delaware  a 
Boston  du  14  juillet  au  20- octobre  1778.  [Re"dige  par  Henri 
Doniol.] 

(In  Societe  d'histoire  diplomatique.     Revue  d'histoire  diplomatique,  6. 
ann6e,  pp.  395-448.     Paris,  1892.    8°.) 

General  Lafayette's  correspondence. 

(In  Sparks,  Jared.     Diplomatic  correspondence  of  the  American  Revolu 
tion,  vol.  10,  pp.  1-71.     Boston,  1830.     8°.) 

Lafayette  in  the  American  Revolution  from  [his]  memoirs. 
Boston:  Old  South  meeting  house,  1898.     24  pp.     8°.     (Old  South 

leaflets,  vol.  4,  no.  97. ) 

Letters  of  George  Washington  and  Lafayette. 
Boston:  Old  South  meeting  house,  1898.     24  pp.     8°'.     (Old  South 

leaflets,  vol.  4,  no.  98.} 

Memoires,  correspondance,  et  manuscrits  du  Ge'ne'ral  Lafayette. 

Publics  par  sa  famille. 
Paris,  1837.     6  vols.  in  4.     8°. 

Memoirs,  correspondence,  and  manuscripts  of  General  Lafayette. 

Published  by  his  family. 
London,  1837.    3  vols.     8°. 

Same.     Vol.  i. 
New  York:  Saunders  &  Otley,  1837.     xiv,  552  pp.     Plate.     8°. 

Memoirs  of  the  military  career  of  the  Marquis  de  La  Fayette,  .  .  . 
including  his  reception  in  New  York,  Boston,  and  the  principal 
towns  in  New  England. 
Boston:  Published  by  Allen  and  Watts,  1824.    56  pp.     S°. 

Bound  in  Miscellaneous  pamphlet,  vol.  22. 

Translation.     Lafayette's  letters  from  prison.     Magdeburg,  1793. 
From  the  originals  in  the  possession  of  Jeremiah  Colburn. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  6,  May,  1881,  pp.  360-376.     Fac 
simile.  ) 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     629 

MARQUIS  DE  LAFAYETTE — WRITINGS  RELATING  TO 

An  ACCOUNT  of  the  reception  of  General  Lafayette  in  Savannah,  on  Sat 
urday,  March  igth,  1825,  of  the  entertainments  given  him  [etc.]. 
Savannah:   W.  T.  Williams,  1825.     80  pp.     8°. 

ADAMS,  John  Quincy.  Oration  on  the  life  and  character  of  Gilbert 
Mottier  de  Lafayette,  delivered  at  the  request  of  both  houses  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  before  them,  in  the  House  of 
representatives  at  Washington,  on  the  thirty-first  of  December, 
1834. 
New  York:  D.  K.  Minor,  1835.  35  pp.  Portrait.  8°. 

Same. 

Washington:  Printed  by  Gales  and  Seaton,  1835.     94pp.     8°. 
AMERICAN  military  biography;  containing  the  lives  and  characters  of  the 
officers  of  the  revolution,  who  were  most  distinguished  in  achiev 
ing  our  national  independence.     Also,  the  life  of  Gilbert  Motier 
La  Fayette.     Pub.  for  H.  S.  Johnson. 
Cincinnati:    Printed  at   the   Chronicle   office,   1834.       6*5)    (f)  PP- 

Plates.     8°. 

Al,i,EN,  E.   M.     La  Fayette's  second  expedition  to  Virginia  in   1781.     A 
paper  read  before  the  Maryland  historical  society,  June  I4th,  1886. 
Baltimore:  [/.  Murphy  &  Co. ] ,  1891.    50  pp.     8°.     (Maryland  his. 
torical  society.     Fund-publication,  no.  32.} 

AI«I,EN,  Z.     Lafayette's  account  of  affairs  in  Rhode  Island,  in  1778. 
(In  Historical  magazine,  vol.  5,  Aug.,  1861,  pp.  247-248.) 

[BARBAROUX,  Charles   Oge,  and  J.  A.  LARDIER.]    'Voyage  du  general 

Lafayette  aux  Etats-Unis  d'Amerique  en  1824  [anon.] 
Bruxelles:  P.  J.  De  Mat,  1825.    3  vols.     24°. 

Voyage  du  ge'ne'ral  Lafayette  aux  Etats-Unis  d'Amerique, 

en  1824  et  1825     .     .     .     [anon.] 

Paris:  L'Huillier,  1826.     (2],  364,  (2}  pp.     Portrait.     12°.      . 
BARDOUX,  A[genor],  i.  e.  Joseph  Age"nor.     Etudes  sociales  et  politiques. 

La  jeunesse  de  La  Fayette,  1757-1792. 
Paris:  C.  Levy,  1892.     (4],  xii,  409 pp.     8°. 

Etudes  sociales  et  politiques.     Les  dernieres  annees  de  La  Fayette, 
1792-1834. 

Paris:  C.  Levy,  1893.     (4],  Hi,  431,  (2}  pp.     8°. 
BiGELrOW,  John.     La  Fayette. 

Boston:  Little,  Brown  &  co.,  1882.     n  pp.     12°. 
BROOKS,  Elbridge  S[treeter].     The  true  story  of  Lafayette,  called  the 

friend  of  America;  illustrated  by  V.  A.  Searles. 

Boston: Lothrop  pub.  co.,  [1899].    260 pp.    Illustrations.    8°.    (Chil 
dren's  lives  of  great  men.} 


630     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

BROWNING,  Charles  H.     Lafayette's  visit  to  the  United  States  in  1824-25. 

(In  American  historical  register,  vol.  2,  July,  1895,  pp.  1151-1162;  Aug., 
J895,  PP-  I363~I384;  vol.  3,  Sept.,  1895,  pp.  1-27;  Oct.,  1895,  pp:  151-194;  Nov., 
1895,  pp.  287-307;  Dec.,  1895,  pp.  441-453;  Jan.,  1896,  pp.  521-544;  Feb.,  1896, 
pp.  621-643;  vol.  4,  MarM  1896,  pp.  1-15;  Apr.,  1896,  pp.  133-146;  May,  1896, 
pp.  239-246;  June,  1896,  pp.  341-351.  Philadelphia,  1895-96.  8°.) 

"An  illustrated  account  of  the  entire  tour  of  General  Lafayette  in  the 
United  States  in  1824-25,  compiled  from  contemporaneous  accounts  and 
reminiscences  sent  to  us  by  members  of  the  patriotic  hereditary  soc^et'.es 
all  along  the  routes  traveled  by  '  the  Nation's  Guest.'  " 

BUDINGER,  Max.     Lafayette.     Kin  Lebensbild. 

Leipzig:  B.  G.  Teubner,  1870.     115,  (f)  pp.     8°. 

BURTON,  Alma  Holman.  Lafayette,  the -friend  of  American  liberty;  with 
an  introduction  by  J.  Baldwin.  (France  and  the  American  revo 
lution.) 

New  York,  Chicago  [etc.]:   Werner  school  book  co.,  [1898}.     85  pp. 
Illustrations.     16°.     (Friends  of 'American  liberty .     Lafayette.} 
BuTi,ER,  Frederick.     Memoirs  of  the  Marquis  de  La  Fayette,  major-gen 
eral  in  the  Revolutionary  Army  of  the  United  States  of  America. 
Together  with  his  tour  through  the  United  States. 
Wethersfield  \_Conn. ,].•  Published  by  Denting  &  Francis,  1825.     417, 

(/)  pp.     Portrait.     12°. 
BuTTERWORTH,  Hezekiah.     The  knight  of  liberty;  a  tale  of  the  fortunes 

of  La  Fayette. 
New  York:  D.  Appleton  and  company,  1895.     vi,  (2),  225 pp.     Plates. 

12°. 

CARRINGTON,  Henry  B.     Lafayette's  Virginia  campaign,  1781. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  6,  May,  1881,  pp.  340-352.) 

CARSON,  Hampton  L[awrence].     The   Hampton  L.  Carson  collection  of 
engraved  portraits  of  Jefferson,  Franklin,  and  Lafayette.     Cata 
logue  compiled  and  sale  conducted  by  Stan.  V.  Henkels  ... 
[Philadelphia,  Press  of  W.  F.  Fell  company,  1904.^     6,  157 pp.     Por 
traits.     Plates.     4°. 

Title-page  reads:  Th_-  unique  collection  of  engraved  portraits  of  Thomas 
Jefferson,  Benjamin  Franklin  and  Gilbert  Mottier  de  I,a  Fayette  ...  to 
be  sold  April  2oth  .  .  .  and  .  .  .  April  2ist  .  .  .  [1904]. 

CASTILE,  [Charles]  Hippolyte.     Lafayette. 

Paris:   Ferdinand    Sartorius,    1858.     63  pp.     Portrait.     Facsimile. 

24° .     (Portraits  historiques  au  dix-neuvieme  siecle,  43.} 
CASTONNET  DES  FOSSES^  H.     La  Fayette  et  ses  compagnons  en  AmeYique. 
Angers:  Lachhe  et  Dolbeau,  1888.    35  pp.     8°. 

Extrait  des  M£rnoires  de  la  Societe  nationale  d'agriculture,  sciences  et 
arts  d'Angers. 

CECii,,  E.     Life  of  Lafayette.     Written  for  children. 

Boston:  Crosby,  Nichols  and  company,  1860.     (6),  218  pp.     Plates 
(colored],    16°. 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     631 

,  « 

CHARAVAY,  Etienne.     Le  general  La  Fayette,  1757-1834.     Notice  biogra- 

phique. 

Paris:  An  siege,  de  la  societe,  1898.     viii,   653,    (j)  pp.     Portraits. 
Facsimiles.     8°. 

"  Bibliographic,"  pp.  600-612. 
"Iconographie,"  pp.  613-620. 

CHATEAUNEUF,  A.     Le  general  Lafayette.     Memoires  authentiques. 
Paris:  Chez  Dumont,  1831.     (6),  80  pp.     8°. 

CHURCH,  Ella  Rodman.     Lafayette's  last  visit  to  America. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  6,  May,  1881,  pp.  322-339.) 


Jules.     Recollections  of  the  private  life  of  General  Lafayette. 
New  York:  Published  by  Leavitt,  Lord  &  co.,  1836.     2  vols.  in  i. 
Illustrations  (woodcuts}.     Facsimiles.     12°. 

CODD,  Margaret  Jane.     The  story  of  Lafayette. 

Chicago:  A.  Flanagan,  [i8c)8~\.    112  pp.     Illustrations.     12°.     (The 
teacher's  helper,  vol.  5,  no.  4.  ) 

A  COMPLETE  history  of  the  -Marquis  de  Lafayette,  major-general  in  the 
army  of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  the  war  of  the  Revolu 
tion;  embracing  an  account  of  his  late  tour  through  the  United 
States  to  the  time  of  his  departure,  September,  1825.  By  an  officer 
in  the  late  army.. 

New  York:  Printed  for,  and  published  by,  Robert  Lowry,  1826.    504 
pp.     Portrait.     8°. 

CUSHING,  Caleb.     A  eulogy  on  La  Fayette,  pronounced  at  the  request  of  the 

young  men  of  Dover,  September  6,  1834. 
Dover,  N.  H.:  Geo.  Wadleigh,  1834.     27  pp.     8°. 
CuTTER,  William.     The  life  of  General  Lafayette. 

New  York:  George  F.  Cooledge  &  brother  [1840'].     408  pp.     Plates. 

Portraits  (woodcuts}.     12°. 
DIALOGUE   entre   le  Dr.  Quickly  et  M.  Amen,  patriote  impartial   de  la 

garde  nationale  parisienne,  touchant  M.  Motier  de  la  Fayette, 

mare'chal  -de-camp  des  ci-devant  arme'es  du  roi,  actuellement  com 

mandant  des  gardes  nationales  parisiennes. 
Londres,  1790.    24  pp.     Plate.     12°.     (  With  Les  Actes  des  apotres. 

Paris  [/7po.?]  ,  version  61.  ) 
DONIOL,  Henri,  i.  e.  Jean  Henri  Antoine.     Correspondance   ine'dite   de 

La  Fayette.     Lettres  ecrites  au  Comte  d'Estajng  pendant  la  cam- 

pagne  du  vice-amiral  de  la  Delaware  a  Boston  du  14  juillet  au 

20  octobre  1778. 

(In  Revue  d'histoire  diplomatique,  vol.  6,  1892,  pp.  395-448.) 

--     La  Fayette  avant  I'anne'e  1800. 

X  (In  Revue  d'histoire  diplomatique,  vol.  17,  Oct.,  1903,  pp.  489-532.) 


632     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

DONIOI,,  Henii,  i.  e.  Jean  Henri  Antoine.     La  Fayette  dans  la  revolution. 
Annies  d'Amerique.     Annees  de  pouvoir  et  anne"es  de  geole.     La 
veille  du  consulat  1775-1799. 
Paris:  Armand  Colin,  1904.     (4),  139 pp.     12°.     Politiques  d'autre- 

fois.) 
ESPINCHAI,,  Comte  d'.     Lafayette. 

(In  Revue  retrospective,  vol.  20,  1894,  pp.  289-320.) 

EVERETT,  Edward.     Eulogy  on  Lafayette,  delivered  in  Faneuil  Hall,  at 

the  request  of  the  young  men  of  Boston,  September  6,  1834. 
Boston:  Nathan  Hale;  and  Allen  &  Ticknor,  1834.    104  pp.     8°. 
FARMER,  Lydia  Hoyt.     The  life  of  La  Fayette,  the  knight  of  liberty  in 

two  worlds  and  two  centuries. 

New  York:   Thomas  Y.  Crowell  &  co. ,  \_i888}.     x,  472  pp.    Illustra 
tions.    Plates.    Portraits.     12°. 

FOSTER,  John.     A  sketch  of  the  tour  of  General  Lafayette  on  his  late  visit 
to  the  United  States,  1824;  comprising  the  addresses  of  the  town 
and  city  authorities,  with  the  answers  of  the  general. 
Portland:   Printed  at  the  Statesman  office,  by  A.  W.  Thayer,  1824. 

228,  (3} pp.     8°. 

FROTHINGHAM,  N[athaniel]  L[angdon].  A  sermon  on  the  death  of  Gen 
eral  Lafayette,  preached  to  the  First  church  in  Boston,  on  Sunday, 
the  29th  of  June,  1834. 

.Boston:  Munroe  &  Francis,  1834.     16  pp.     8°. 
GENERAL  LA  FAYETTE'S  arrival  in  the  United  States. 

(In  American  sketches;  by  a  native  of  the  United  States,  pp.  58-94. 
.  Condon,  1827.     12°.) 

GREGG,  Jarvis.  Eulogy  on  Lafayette,  delivered  in  the  chapel  of  Dart 
mouth  college,  July  4,  1834. 

Hanover,  N.  H.:   Thomas  Mann,  1834.     28 pp.     8°. 
HAI^E,  E[dward]  J[oseph].     Monsieur  le  marquis  de  La  Fayette. 

Raleigh :  Capital  printing  company,   1901.     31  pp.      12°.      (North 
Carolina  booklet,  vol.  i,  no.  8.) 

[HASSAM,  Frederick  F.]     Liberty  tree:  Liberty  hall  .  .  .  1775.     Lafayette 

and  loyalty! 

[Boston,  1891.'}     1 6  pp.     12°. 
Cover-title. 

HEADI,EY,  P[hineas]  C[amp].  The  life  of  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette, 
major  general  in  the  United  States  army  in  the  war  of  the  Revolu 
tion,  .  .  .  with  notes  by  Henry  Ketcham. 

New  York :  A.L.  Burt  company,  [/poj].     iv,  iii-vii,  364pp.    Plates. 
Portrait.     12°. 

HISTORIC AI,  sketches  illustrative  of  the  life  of  M.  de  Lafayette;  and  the 

leading  events  of  the  American  revolution.     By  an  American. 
New  York:  Printed  for  the  author,  1824.     227  pp.     72°.  \ 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     633 

[KNAPP,  Samuel  L.]  Memoirs  of  General  Lafayette.  With  an  account 
of  his  visit  to  America,  and  of  his  reception  by  the  people  of  the 
United  States;  from  his  arrival  August  i5th,  to  the  celebration  at 
Yorktown,  October  I9th,  1824. 

Boston:  Printed  and  published  by  E.  G.  House,  1824.     264  pp.     Por 
trait.     12°. 

f  LAFAYETTE  in  the  American  revolution;  from  his  Autobiography. 

Boston:  Old  South   meeting  house,  1883.     8 pp.     12°.     (Old  South 
leaflets,  ist  series,  no.  7. ) 

Caption-title. 

LAFAYETTE'S  visit  to  Indiana. 

{In  Brookville  inquirer  and  Franklin  republican,  vol.  7,  June  17,  1825.) 
Same  as  in  lyouisville  public  advertiser,  noted  below. 

-LAMB,  Martha  J.     Our  country  fifty  years  ago;  some  incidents  in  connec 
tion  with  Lafayette's  visit. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  18,  Dec.,  1887,  pp.  457-477.) 

LETTERS  of  Washington  and  Lafayette.     [1777-1792.] 

Boston:  Old  South  meeting  house,  1889.     20  pp.     12°.     (Old  South 
leaflets,  Jth  series,  no.  6. ) 
Caption-title. 

LEVASSEUR,  A.     General  Lafayette  in  America,  oder  dessen  letzte  Reise 
durch  Amerika  in  den  Jahren  1824  und  1825.     Beschrieben  von 
A.  Levasseur,  und  aus  dem  franzosischen  ubersetzt  von  A.  Levas- 
seur,  geb.  Zeis. 
Naumburg:    Wild,  1820.     2  vols.  in  i.     Portrait.     8°. 

LEVASSEUR,  A.     Lafayette  en  AmeVique,  en  1824  et  1825,  ou  Journal  d'un 

voyage  aux  Etats-Unis. 
Paris:  Baudouin,  1829.    2  vols.    Plates.    Portraits.    Folded  map.    8°. 

Lafayette  in  America  in  1824  and  1825;  or,  Journal  of  a  voyage 

to  the  United  States;  by  A.  Levasseur  ...     Tr.  by  J.  D.  God- 
man,  M.  D. 
Philadelphia:  Carey  and  Lea,  1829.     2  vols.     12°. 

Reis  door  de  Vereenigde  Staten  van  Noord-Amerika,  in  de  jaren 

1824  en   1825,  door  den  generaal  Lafayette.     Naar  het  Fransch 
van  zijnen  secretaris  A.  Levasseur  .  .   . 
Zutphen:    W.  J.  Thieme,  1831.     2  vols.     Portrait.     8°. 

LOMENIE,  Louis  Leonard  de.     M.  de  Lafayette. 

(In  his  Galerie  des contemporains  illustres,  par  un  homme  de  rien,  vol.5, 
pp.  9-120.     Paris,  1842.     16°.) 

LONG,  John  D[avis].     Lafayette  in  America. 

[Boston:   The  YouWs  companion,  1902. ~\    15 pp.    Illustrations.    Por 
traits.     12°. 

From  the  Youth's  companion,  July  3,  1902. 


634     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

MACK,  Ebenezer.     The  life  of  Gilbert  Metier  de  Lafayette. 

Ithaca,  N.  Y.:  Mack,  Andrus  &  Woodruff,  1841.    371  pp.     Illustra 
tions  (wood  cuts}.     12°. 

MAKERS  of  American  history:  Patrick  Henry,  by  Alexander  H.  Everett; 
General  Greene,  General  Lafayette,  General  Marion,  by  William 
[!]  T.  Headley. 
New  York:   The  University  society,  incorporated,  1004.    336  pp.    Por-\ 

trait.     12°.  .     * 

MEMOIRS  of  General  La  Fayette,  embracing  details  of  his  public  and  pri 
vate  life,   sketches  of  the  American  revolution,   .  .   .  with  bio 
graphical  notices  of   individuals  who  have   been   distinguished 
actors  in  these  events. 
New  York:  Published  by  Russell  Robins,  1825.     455  pp.     Portraits. 

12°. 

MEMOIRS  of  General  Lafayette,  with  an  account  of  his  tour  through  the 
United  States,  and  a  description  of  the  ceremonies  in  laying  the 
corner  stone  of  the  Bunker  Hill  monument. 
[/£?5.]     24pp.     Portrait.     12°. 
Cover-title. 

NEW  YORK  ( City)  Common  council.     Description  of  the  book  presented 
to  General  La  Fayette  by  the  Common  council  of  New  York,  with 
explanations  of  the  designs,  etc. 
Published  by  order  of  the  committee,  J.  &  J.  Harper,  printers,  1825. 

27  pp.     16°. 

PARKER,  A.  A.  Recollections  of  General  Lafayette  on  his  visit  to  the  United 
States,  in  1824  and  1825;  with  the  most  remarkable  incidents  of 
his  life,  from  his  birth  to  the  day  of  his  death. 

Keene,   N.    H.:  Sentinel  printing  company,   1879.     148  pp.     Por 
trait.     8°. 
PEiyET  DE  I*A  LOZERE,  Privat  Joseph  Claramond,  comte.     Lafayette  en 

Amerique  et  en  France. 

Paris:  Grassart,  1867.     (2],  210,  (i)  pp.     12°. 

[POST,  Lydia  Minturn] .  Personal  recollections  of  the  American  revolution. 
A  private  journal.  Prepared  from  authentic  domestic  records. 
Together  with  reminiscences  of  Washington  &  Lafayette. 
Edited  by  Sidney  Barclay  [pseud.]. 

New  York:  Rudd  &  Carleton,  1859.     251  pp.     Facsimile.     12°. 
REGNAUI/T-WARIN,  Jean  Baptiste  Joseph  Innocent  Philadelphe.     Me"moires 
pour  servir  a  la  vie  du  General  La  Fayette,  et  a  1'histoire  de  1'As- 
semblee  constituante. 
A  Paris:  Chez  Hesse  et  cie.,  1824.     2  vols.     8°. 

SAINTE-BEUVE,  C.  A.     Memoires  de  General  La  Fayette  (1838). 

(In  his  Portraits  Iitt6raires,  vol.  2,  pp.  157-202.     Paris,  1855.     12°.) 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     635 

SARRANS,  Bernard.     Memoirs  of  General  Lafayette  and  of  the  French 

revolution  of  1830. 
London:  Richard  Bentley,  1832.     2  vols.     Portraits.     8°. 

SCHOULER,  James.     Lafayette's  tour  in  1824. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  10,  Sept.,  1883,  pp.  243-250.) 

SKETCH  of  the  life  and  military  services  of  Gen.  La  Fayette  during  the 

American  revolution. 
New-York:  Printed  and  published  for  the  editor,  1824.     24pp.     8°. 

SPRAGUE,  William  B[uell].     An  oration  commemorative  of  the  late  Gen 
eral  Lafayette,  pronounced  before  the  military  and  civic  societies 
of  the  city  of  Albany,  in  the  South  Dutch  church,  July  24,  1834. 
Albany:  Packard  and  Van  Benthuysen,  1834.    34pp.     8°. 

STATEMENT  of  the  attempted  rescue  of  General  Lafayette  from  ' '  Olmutz. ' ' 
[Charleston,  S.  C.:   Walker,  Evans  &  Cogswell,  188-?]     49  pp.     8°. 

"The  following  account  is  prepared  from  the  personal  narrative  and 
conversations  of  Col.  F.  K.  Huger,  by  one  of  his  family." 

STEVENS,  John  Austin.     The  expedition  of  Lafayette  against  Arnold. 

Baltimore:  [/.   Murphy},   1878.    36  pp.     8°.     (Maryland  historical 
society.     Fund-publication,  no.  13.) 

Lafayette's  letters  from  prison,  Magdeburg,  1793. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  6,  May,  1881,  pp.  353-359.) 

Visit  of  Lafayette  to  the  United  States,  1784. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  2,  Dec.,  1878,  pp.  724-733.) 

STII^E  [Charles  Janeway].     A  review  of  Mr.  Tower's  "The  Marquis  de 

La  Fayette  in  the  American  revolution." 
Philadelphia,  1895.     23  pp.     8°. 

"Reprinted  from  'The  Pennsylvania  magazine  of  history  and  biogra 
phy.'     April,  1895." 

SUMNER,  Charles.     Lafayette;  the  faithful  one.     Lecture. 
Boston:    Wright  &  Potter,  1870.    35pp.     8°., 

SwETT,  Lucia  Gray.     The  visit  of  Lafayette,  the  old  housekeeper's  story. 
Boston:  Lee  and  Shepard,  1903.    38  numbered  leaves.    Portrait.    12°. 
[TiCKNOR,  George.]     Outlines  of  the  principal  events  in  the  life  of  Gen 
eral  Lafayette. 

Boston:  Published  by  Cummings,  Hilliard  &  co.,  1825.     64pp.     8°. 
Reprinted  from  the  'North  American  review,  Jan.,  1825,   "with  a  few 
alterations  and  a  considerable  number  of  additions." 

TOWER,  Charlemagne,  jr.  The  Marquis  de  La  Fayette  in  the  American 
revolution.  With  some  account  of  the  attitude  of  France  toward 
the  War  of  Independence. 

Philadelphia:  J.  B.  Lippincott  co.,  1895.     2  vols.     Portraits.     Maps. 
8°. 


636     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

TUCKER,    John    S.      The    French    in    our   Revolution.      The    Marquis 

Lafayette. 
[Washington,  1 88 1.]     10 pp.     8°. 

Cover-title. 
TUCKERMAN,  Bayard.     Life  of  General  Lafayette,  with  a  critical  estimate 

of  his  character  and  public  acts. 

New  York:  Dodd,  Mead  &  company,  1889.     2  vols.     Portraits.    12°. 
UPHAM,  Nathaniel  G.     Eulogy  on  Lafayette,  delivered  at  Concord,  agree 
ably  to  a  resolve  of  the  New-Hampshire  legislature,  on  the  iyth 
of  June  1835. 

Concord:  Printed  by  Cyrus  Barton,  1835.    56  pp.     8°. 
VIE  prive*e,  impartiale,  politique,  militaire  et  domestique,  du  Marquis  de 
La  Fayette,  general  des  Bleuets,  pour  servir  de  supplement  a  la 
ne*crologie  des  hommes  celebres  du  dix-huitieme  siecle,  &  de  clef 
aux  revolutions  francaises  &  americaines. 
A  Paris:  De  P imprimerie  particuliere  de  M.  de  Bastide  en   1790. 

88pp.     Portrait.     8°. 
VIE  publique  et  privee  de  M.  le  marquis  de  Lafayette,  avec  des  details 

sur  1' affaire  du  6  octobre,  etc. 

\_Pai  is} ,  1791.     60  pp.     12°.     (With  Vie  privee,  impartiale,  politique, 
militaire  et  domestique,  du  Marquis  de  La  Fayette.     Paris,  1790. ) 

VISIT  of  the  Nation's  Guest  to  Indiana.          , 

(In  Louisville  public  advertiser,  vol.  7,  May  18,  1825.) 
Address  to  General  Lafayette. 
Answer  of  General  Lafayette. 
Account  of  dinner  and  toasts. 

Same. 

(In  Evansville  gazette,  vol.  4,  June  n,  1825.) 

Same. 

(In  Indiana  journal,  vol.  3,  June  7,  1825.) 

WALN,  Robert,  jr.  Life  of  the  Marquis  de  La  Fayette;  Major-general  in 
the  service  of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution. 

Philadelphia:  Published  by  J.  P.  Ayres,  1825.    505 pp.     Portrait.    8°. 
WARD,  Robert  D.     An  account  of  General  La  Fayette's  visit  to  Virginia  in 

the  years  1824-' 25. 

West,  Johnston  &  co.,  Richmond,  Va.,  f88i.     136  pp.     Portrait.     8°. 
WHITMAN,  Walt.     Lafayette  in  Brooklyn,  with  an  introduction  by  John 

Burroughs. 

New  York:    G.  D.  Smith,  1905.     (25}  i  pp.     2  portraits  (including 
frontispiece}.     Folded  facsimile .     8°. 

"The  following  impromptu  reminiscence  of  Lafayette's  visit  to  this 
country  in  1825  .  .  .  was  given  some  time  since  at  a  meeting  of  the  New 
England  historic  genealogical  society  in  .  .  .  Boston." 

"The  following  paper  is  printed  literally  from  an  undated  MS.  prepared 
by  Whitman  for  the  printer,  but  never  published." 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     637 

WOOD,  William  A.     Lafayette's  visit  to  Missouri,  [1825]. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  18,  Aug.,  1887,  pp.  154-156.) 

WYUE,  Andrew.     An  eulogy  on  Lafayette,   delivered  in  Bloomington, 
Indiana,  on  the  ninth  of  May,  1835,  at  the  request  of  the  citizens 
and  students. 
Cincinnati:   Taylor  and  Tracy,  1835.    32pp.     12°. 

MARQUIS   DE   I^AFAYETTE — ARTICLES   IN   PERIODICALS 

1815.     Interesting  notices  of  the  life  of  the  Marquis  de  La  Fayette. 

The  Portfolio,  vol.  13  {June,  1815}:  499-5 13. 
1824.     Lafayette. 

The  Portfolio,  vol.  32  (Oct.,  1824]:  261-264. 

1824.  The  visit  of  General  Lafayette. 

The  Portfolio,  vol.  32  (Oct.,  1824}:  328-339;  (Nov.,  1824}:  415-417. 

1825.  Lafayette.     George  Ticknor. 

North  American  review,  vol.  20  (Jan.,  1825}:  147-180. 
1825.     Memoirs  of  General  La  Fayette. 

United  Slates  literary  gazette,  vol.  i  (Jan.  i,  1825):  278-279. 
1825.     Outlines  of  the  principal  events   in  the  life  of  General  Lafayette. 
[Review.] 

United  States  literary  gazette,  vol.  2  (Apr.  i,  1825}:  9-15. 

1829.  Lafayette  in  America. 

American  qtiarterly  revieiv,  vol.  6  (Dec.,  1829}:  467-494. 

Review  of  I,evasseur'sJ'I,afayette  en  Amerique." 

1830.  Lafayette  in  America.     E.  Everett. 

North  American  review,  vol.  30  (Jan.,  1830}:  216-237. 

Review  of  I^evasseur's  "L,afayette  en  Amerique." 

1832.  Memoirs  of  Lafayette. 

Monthly  review,  vol.  129  (Oct.,  1832}:  224-248. 
Review  of  the  Memoirs  by  B.  Sarrans. 

1833.  Sketch  of  the  life  of  General  Lafayette.     A.  D.  Paterson. 
American  monthly  magazine,  vol.  i  (June  i,  1833):  243-250;  (July 

i,  1833):  295-303. 

1834.  ^a  Fayette.     [A  poem.]     L.  H.  Sigourney. 

New  England  magazine,  vol.  7  (Aug.,  1834]:  124-125. 
1834.     Glimpses  of  Lafayette,  and  of  a  few  of  his  friends. 
New  monthly  magazine,  vol.  41  (July,  1834):  315-321. 

1834.  La  Fayette.     Eulogy.     Alexandre  de  Boinville. 
Southern  literary  messenger,  vol.  i  (Nov.,  1834]:  93-94. 

1835.  Lafayette.     Eulogies  by  John  Quincy  Adams  and  Edward  Everett 

reviewed. 
Southern  literary  messenger,  vol.  i  (Feb.,  1835}:  307-312. 


638     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

1836.  Recollections  of  General  Lafayette. 
Monthly  review ,  vol.  139  (Jan.,  1836):  56-65. 

Review  of  Jules  Cloquet's  Recollections. 

1837.  Memoirs  of  Lafayette. 

Monthly  review,  vol.  143  (July,  1837}:  392-397. 

1843.     Reminiscences  of  men  and  things.     Lafayette. 

Eraser's  magazine,  vol.  28  (July,  1843}:  60-72;  (Aug.,  1843]:  169-182. 

1848.     Recollections  of  Lafayette.     Rose  Standish. 

The  Knickerbocker,  vol.  32  (Sept.,  1848}:  215-218. 

1855.     Reminiscences  of  a  tempest-tossed  life.     Lafayette. 
Putnam'1  s monthly ,  vol.  6  (Oct.,  1855}:  416-424. 

1859.     Reminiscences  of  La  Fayette's  visit  to  Boston — Governor  Eustis — 
Governor  Brooks  and  others.     W.  H.  Sumner. 

New  England  historical  and  genealogical  register,   vol.  13  (Apr., 

1 859}-  99-I07- 
1861.     The  home  of  Lafayette. 

Atlantic  monthly ,  vol.  8  (Dec.,  1861):  649-663. 
1867.     Lafayette  as  a  patriot  and  soldier. 

National  quarterly  review,  vol.  16  (Dec.,  1867}:  71-95. 
1870.     Last  letter  of  General  Lafayette,  as  an  American  officer. 

Historical  magazine,  vol.  18  (Dec.,  1870}:  353. 
1873.     Lafayette's  last  visit  to  America.     Thurlow  Weed. 

The  Galaxy,  vol.  16  (July,  1873}:  73-78. 

1873.  Lafayette:  The  creator  of  the  National  guard. 
Temple  bar,  vol.  39  (Nov.,  1873}:  479-493. 
Eclectic  magazine,  vol.  82  (Jan.,  1874}:  90-99. 

1874.  The  gold  medal  presented  to  Lafayette  [by  the  Seventh  regiment, 

National  guards,  of  the  city  of  New  York]. 
American  historical  record,  vol.3  (Nov.,  1874]:  492-495. 
1876.     Lafayette — The  nature  of  his  relations  to  America.      Esther  Reed 

Vernet. 
Patterns  American  monthly,  vol.  6  (Apr.,  1876}:  270-274. 

1885.  General  Lafayette's  visit  to  Pittsburgh  in  1825. 
Pennsylvania's  magazine  of  history  and  biography ,  vol.  9  (Oct.,  1885}: 

272-277. 

From  the  Pittsburg  Mercury,  June  i,  and  Pittsburg  Gazette  of  June  3, 
1825. 

1886.  The  enlistment  of  Lafayette,  1776.     Bayard  Tuckerman. 
New  Princeton  review,  vol.  2  (Nov.,  1886}:  376-388. 

1889.     Tuckerman's  Lafayette.     A.  G.  Sedgwick. 
Nation,  vol.  48  (May  23,  1889}:  431-432. 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     639 

1892.  Bardoux's  Lafayette.     A.  Laugel. 

Nation,  vol.  55  (Aug.  18,  1802):  123-124;  (Sept.  i,  1892}:  164. 

1893.  Silas  Deane  and  the  coming  of  Lafayette.     Georgianna  A.  Boutwell. 
v        New  England  magazine,  n.  s.,  vol.  8  (Apr.,  1893}:  167-174. 

1895.     Tower's  Lafayette.     Paul  L.  Ford. 

Nation,  vol.  60  (Mar.  21,  1895}:  222-223. 

1895.  Lafayette  in  the  American  Revolution.     D.  L.  Shorey. 
Dial  (Chicago},  vol.  18  (Apr.  i,  1895}:  208-210. 

Review  of  Charlemagne  Tower's  L,afayette. 

1896.  Lafayette  as  a  Freemason.     Abraham  Jordan. 
American  historical  register,  vol.  4  (Apr.,  1896}:  147-150. 

1897.  The  Marquis  de  Lafayette  and  President  Monroe.     Murat  Halstead. 
Cosmopolitan,  vol.  23  (Oct.,  1897}:  681-600. 

1898.  Charavay's  Lafayette.     A.  Laugel. 

Nation,  vol.  66  (Mar.  17,  1898}:  203-204;  (Mar.  24,  1898}:  221-222; 
(Apr.  7,  1808):  261-262. 

1899.  ^a  Fayette's  departure  from  this  country.     (Sept.  7,  1825.) 
The  Spirit  0/^76,  vol.  5  (Aug.,  1899}:  258. 

1900.  The  statue  of  General  Lafayette  at  Washington.     Bessie  Josephine 

Lynch. 

The  Spirit  of  ^76,  vol.  6  (Apr.,  1900}:  131-132. 
1900.     America's  gift  to  France  [Lafayette  statue].     Edward  Insley. 

Harpers  weekly,  vol.  45  (June  9,  10.00}:  527. 
1900.     In  memory  of  Lafayette. 

The  Independent,  vol.  52  (July  12,  1900):  1646-1647. 
1900.     The  statue  of  Lafayette  at  Paris. 

Scientific  American,  vol.  83  (July  21,  1900}-  43. 

1900.  Musings  without  method.     Figureheads  of   emotion — Homage  to 

Lafayette  .  .   .  France  and  America. 
Blackwood's  Edinburgh  magazine,  vol.  168  (Sept.,  1900}:  394-404. 

1901.  Lafayette's  carriage. . 

Scientific  American  supplement,  vol.  51  (Mar.  16,  1901}:  21081. 

1901.  The  Lafayette  monument.     Richard  Ladegast. 
The  Outlook,  vol.  69  (Sept.  7,  1901}:  56-57. 

1902.  A  letter  of  Marquis  de  La  Fayette,  1781.  ,,.'  „ 
American  historical  review ,  vol.  8  (Oct.,  1902]:  89-91. 

1903.  Lafayette's  last  visit  to  America.     Theodore  Stanton. 
Lippincotf s  monthly  magazine,  vol.  71  (April,  1903}:  544-549. 

1903.     Lafayette's  letters.     A.  Laugel. 

Nation,  vol.  76  (June  25,  1903}:  513-514. 


640     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

1903.     Lafayette.     George  Hare  Ford. 

The  Spirit  of  '76,  vol.  10  (Oct.,  1903}:  34;  (Nov.,  1903}:  46-47. 
1903.     America's  tribute  to  Lafayette.     Augustus  E.  Ingram. 

Munsey^s  magazine,  vol.  30  (Nov.,  1903}:  225-228. 

FRENCH    FLEET   IN   THE   AMERICAN   REVOLUTION 

CAMBIS,  comte  de.     Extraits  du  journal  tenu  par  le  cte  Cambisabord  du 
Lanquedoc. 

(In  Doniol,  H.  Histoire  de  la  participation  de  la  France,  vol.  3,  pp.  374- 
382.  Paris,  1888.  F°.) 

CHEVALIER,  Fv[douard] .    Histoire  de  la  marine  fran9aise  pendant  la  guerre 
de  1'inde'pendance  americaine,  pre'ce'dee  d'une  e"tude  sur  la  marine 
militaire  de  la  France  et  sur  ses  institutions  depuis  le  commence 
ment  du  xvne  siecle  jusqu'a  1'ann.de  1877. 
Paris:  Hachette  et  tie.,  1877.     (4],  517,  (2}  pp.     8°. 

ESTAING,  Charles  Hector,  comte  d'.     Extrait  du  journal  d'un  officier  de  la 

marine  de  1'escadre  de  M.  le  comte  d'Estaing. 
\_n.p.~}  1782.     126  pp.     Portrait.     12°. 

A  declaration  addressed  in  the  name  of  the  King  of  France  to  all 

the  ancient  French  in  North  America. 

(In  Documents  relative  to  the  colonial  history  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
vol.  10,  pp.  1165-1167.  Albany,  1858.  4°.) 

— —    A  declaration  addressed  in  the  name  of  the  King  of  France  to  all 
the  ancient  French  in  North  America. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  22,  Nov.,  1889,  pp.  427-429.) 
A  translation  of  a  document  which  was  printed  in  French  on  board  the 
Lanquedoc  for  the  Count  d'Estaing,  October  28,  1778. 

Siege  of  Savannah,  1779.     General  orders  of  the  Count  d'Estaing 

for  the  attack  by  the  allied  forces,  8th  and  gth  October.     Tr.  from 
the  original  MS.  in  the  possession  of  Frank  Moore. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  2,  Sept.,  1878,  pp.  548-551.) 

EVERETT,  Sidney.     The  Chevalier  de  Ternay. 

(In  New  England  historical  and  genealogical  register,  vol.  27,  Oct.,  1873, 
pp.  404-418.) 

FRANCE.     Ministere  des  affaires  etrangeres.     L,es  combattants  francais  de 

la  guerre  americaine  1778-1873.     Listes  e"tablies  d'apres  les  documents 

authentiques  deposes  aux  Archives  nationales  et  aux  Archives  du 

Ministere  de  la  guerre.     Publiees  par  les  soins  du  Ministere  des 

affaires  e*trangeres. 

Paris:  Ancienne  maison  Quantin,  Librairies-imprimeries  reunies, 
Motteroz,  Martinet,  1903.  (4),  xii,  (4],  327  pp.  Plates.  Por 
traits.  F°. 

lyistes.  Marine:  Escadre  du  comte  d'Estaing.  Escadre  du  comte  de 
Grasse.  Escadre  des  comtes  de  Guichen  et  de  Grasse.  Escadre  du  comte 
de  Ternay  (armee  de  Rochambeau). 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     641 

FRANCE.     Same. 

Washington:  Imprimerie  nationale,  1905.  ii,  453  pp.  Plates.  Por 
traits.  7Y'°.  (\_U.  S.~\  jSth  Congress,  2d  session.  Senate  docu 
ment  77.) 

Paris  edition  pub.  1903. 

GOUSSENCOURT,  Chevalier  de.  A  journal  of  the  cruise  of  the  fleet  of  His 
Most  Christian  Majesty,  under  the  command  of  the  Count  de 
Grasse-Tilly,  in  1781  and  1782. 

(In  The  operations  of  the  French  fleet  under  the  Count  de   Grasse,  in 
1781-2,  pp.  25-133.     New  York,  1864.     8°. ) 
The  name  "Chevalier  de  Goussencourt "  appears  to  be  a  pseudonym. 

JOURNAL  of  an  officer  in  the  naval  army  in  America,  in  1781  and  1782. 
Amstersdam,  1783. 

(In  The  operations  of  the  French 'fleet  under  the  Count  de  Grasse  in 
f  1781-2,  pp. '136-185.     New  York,  1864.     8°.) 

This  journal  was  written  "by  a  friendly  hand,  if  not  his  [De  Grasse's] 
own." 

KERGUEL,EN-[TREMAREC],  Y[ves]  J[oseph  de].     Relation  des  combats  et 

des  evenements  de  la  guerre  maritime  de  I778entre  la  France  et 

1'  Angleterre,  melee  de  reflexions  sur  les  manoeuvres  des  generaux; 

precedee  d'une  adresse  aux  marins,  sur  la  disposition  des  vais- 

seaux  pour  le  combat;  et  terminee  par  un  precis  de  la  guerre  pre- 

sente,  des  causes  de  la  destruction  de  la  marine,  et  des  moyens  de 

la  retablir. 

\_Pari s~\:  finpr.  de  Patris,  1796.     (2),  403  pp.     12°. 
[LosTANGES,  Arnaud  Louis  Charles  Rose  de.]     Relation  du  combat  de  la 

fregate   fraii5aise  la   Surveillante,  contre   la   fregate   anglaise  le 

Quebec. 

Paris:  F.  nidot,  imprimeur  du  roi,  iSij.     68  pp.     Plates.     8°. 
NoAirj.ES,   [Amblard  Marie  Raymond  Amedee]  ricomte  de.     Marins  et 

soldats  fran£ais  en  Amerique  pendant  la  guerre  de  1'independance 

des  Etats-Unis  (1778-1783). 

Paris:  Perrinet  cie,  1903.     vii^jgpp.     Portraits.  2  folded  maps.    8°. 
The  OPERATIONS  of  the  French  fleet  under  the  Count  de  Grasse  in  1781-2, 

as  described  in  two  contemporaneous  journals. 

f    York,   1864.     .r,    [/f]-2i6  pp. 

(  [Bradford  club  series,     no.  j]. ) 

Edited  by  John  Dawson  Gilmary  Shea. 

The  name  "Chevalier  de  Goussencourt,"  under  which  the  first  journal 
was  issued,  appears  to  be  a  pseudonym,  cf.  Pref. 

The  second  journal  was  written  "by  a  friendly  hand,  if  not  his  [de 
Grasse's]  own."  cf.  p.  21. 

CONTENTS. — Introduction. — Francis  Joseph  Paul  de  Grasse-Rouville, 
count  de  Grasse,  marquis  de  Tilly. — A  journal  of  the  cruise  of  the  fleet  of 
His  Most  Christian  Majesty,  under  the  command  of  the  Count  de  Grasse- 
Tilly,  in  1781  and  1782.  By  the  chevalier  de  Goussencourt  [tr.  from  the 
Ms.]. — Journal  of  an  officer  in  the  naval  army  in  America,  in  1781  and 

S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 41 


642     List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance 

1782  .  .  .  Amsterdam,  1783.— Appendix.  L,etter  from  Count  de  Grasse  to 
General  Washington  23  September,  1781.— Better  of  General  Washington 
22  September  1781.— Account  of  De  Grasse's  conquest  of  Tobago,  from  the 
Gazette  de  France,  Aug.  10,  1781. — Journal  of  the  operations  of  the  fleet, 
abridged  from  the  Gazette  de  France,  Aug.  10,  1781.— Journal  of  the  opera 
tions  of  the  fleet,  abridged  from  the  Gazette  de  France,  20  November.— 
Actions  of  April  gth  and  i2th  [extracted  from  "Voyage  d'un  Suisse  dans 
differentes  colonies  d'Amerique"  by  Girod-Chantrans].— Rodney's  ac 
count  of  the  actions  of  April  gth  and  i2th. 

STONE,  Edwin  Martin.  Our  French  allies.  Rochambeau  and  his  army, 
Lafayette  and  his  devotion,  D'Estaing,  De  Ternay,  Barras,  De 
Grasse,  and  their  fleets,  in  the  great  war  of  the  American  revolu 
tion,  from  1778  to  1782. 

Providence:  Printed  by  the  Providence  press  co.,  1884  [1883],     xxxi, 
632  pp.     Illustrations.     Plates.     Portraits.     Maps.     4°. 

SIEGE  OF  YORKTOWN 

[BUTTER,  Richard.]  General  Richard  Butler's  Journal  of  the  siege  of 
York  town. 

(In  Historical  magazine,  vol.  8,  Mar.,  1864,  pp.  102-112.) 

CURRY,  J[abez]  L[amar]  M[onroe].  Lessons  of  the  Yorktown  centen 
nial.  Address  delivered  in  Richmond,  on  226.  October,  1881,  by 
request  of  the  City  council. 

Richmond:  Dispatch  steam  printing  house,  1 88 1.     2 4 pp.     8°. 
Du  HAMEI,  [William  James  C.]     An  address  read  before  the  Maryland 
historical  society  on  the  centennial  of  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  Va. 
1781-1881. 
[New  York:  American  bank  note co.,  1 88o?~\     7pp.     8°. 

A  history  of  the  surrender  of  the  British  forces  to  the  Americans 

and  French  at  Yorktown,  Va. 
[  Washington,  1881.]     //,[/]  pp.     Map.     8°. 

Reprint  of  his  "Address  read  before  the  Maryland  historical  society  on 
the  centennial  of  the  siege  of  Yorktown." 

[EVANS,  Chaplain.'}  Journal  of  the  siege  of  York  in  Virginia,  by  a  chap 
lain  of  the  American  army. 

(In  Massachusetts  historical  society.     Collections,  vol.  9,  pp.  102-108. 
Boston,  1804.     8°.) 

FiSKE,  Nathan.  An  oration  delivered  at  Brookfield,  Nov.  14,  1781.  In 
celebration  of  the  capture  of  Lord  Cornwallis  and  his  whole  army 
at  York -Town  and  Gloucester,  in  Virginia,  by  the  combined  army 
under  the  command  of  his  excellency  General  Washington,  on 
the  1 9th  of  October,  1781. 
Boston:  Printed  by  T.  &  J.  Fleet,  [//£/].  8pp.  8°. 

The  GUESTS  of  the  nation. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  7,  Dec.,  1881,  pp.  463-467.) 
Concerning  the  delegation  sent  by  the  French  Government  to  partici 
pate  in  the  Yorktown  celebration. 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     643 

A  HISTORY  of  the  monument  erected  by  the  U.  S.  government  to 
commemorate  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war  at  Yorktown, 
October  iQth,  1781.  Being  a  narrative  of  its  inception,  construc 
tion,  completion,  and  official  examination. 

Philadelphia:  Dewey  &  Eakins,  printers,  1890.    '26  pp.    Plates.    Pho 
tographs.     8°. 
JOHNSTON,  Henry  P [helps].     The  Yorktown  campaign  and  the  surrender 

of  Cornwallis,  1781. 
New  York:   Harper  &  brothers,  1881.     206  pp.     Portraits.     Maps. 

Facsimile.     8°. 

JOURNAL  of  the  siege  of  York  in  Virginia.  [By  a  French  engineer.] 
September-October,  1781. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  4,  June,  1880,  pp.  449-452.) 

[MARSH,  Luther  R.]  A  slight  souvenir  of  a  visit  to  the  Yorktown  cen 
tennial  celebration  in  October,  1881,  on  board  the  steam  yacht 
Yosemite. 

{New  York?  i88if\  (2),  21,  (1}  pp.     8°. 

MENONVII^E,  Franjois  Louis  Arthur  Thibaut,  comte  de.  Journal  of  the 
siege  of  York. 

(/»  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  7,  Oct.,  1881,  pp.  283-288.) 

NEW  YORK.     Chamber  of  commerce  of  the  State  of  New  York.     Banquet 
given  by  the  Chamber  of  commerce  of  the  State  of  New  York  in 
honor  of  the  guests  of  the  nation  to  the  centennial  celebration  of 
the  victory  at  Yorktown.     New  York,  November  5,  1881. 
{New  York:  1 88 1.'}  (2},ii,  (2),  51  pp.     Plate.     8°. 

PATTON,  Jacob  Harris.  Yorktown:  A  compendious  account  of  the  cam 
paign  of  the  allied  French  and  American  forces,  resulting  in  the 
surrender  of  Cornwallis  and  the  close  of  the  American  revolution ; 
the  succeeding  events,  to  the  treaty  of  peace;  and  the  celebration 
of  the  centennial  anniversary  of  the  surrender  at  Yorktown. 
New  York:  Fords,  Howard,  and Hulbert,  1882.  62 pp.  Plates.  Por 
traits.  Maps.  8°. 

ROCHAMBEAU,  [Eugene  Achille  Lacroix  de  Vimeur]   comte  de.     York- 
town.     Centenaire  de  Tinddpendance  des  Etats-Unis  d'  Amerique; 
1781-1881. 
Paris:  H.  Champion,  1886.    340,  (1}  pp.     Plates.     8°. 

STEVENS,  Benjamin'  Franklin,  comp.  and  ed.  The  campaign  in  Virginia, 
1781.  An  exact  reprint  of  six  rare  pamphlets  on  the  Clinton- 
Cornwallis  controversy,  with  very  numerous  important  unpub 
lished  manuscript  notes  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  K.  B.,  and  the 
omitted  and  hitherto  unpublished  portions  of  the  letters  in  their 
appendixes  added  from  the  original  manuscripts.  With  a  sup 
plement  containing  extracts  from  the  journals  of  the  House  of 
lords,  a  French  translation  of  papers  laid  before  the  House,  and  a 


644     List  of  Works  Relating  to  FrencJi  Alliance 

catalogue  of  the  additional  correspondence  of  Clinton  and  Corn- 
wallis,  in  1780-81. 
London,  1888.     2  vols.     4°. 

STEVENS,  John  Austin.     The  allies  at  Yorktown,  1781;  with  an  appendix. 
(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  6,  Jan.,  1881,  pp.  1-53;  vol.  7,  Dec., 
1881,  pp.  445-453--     Maps.) 

The  appendix  contains:  ist.  News   from  the  front,  from  the  journals 
of  the  day;  and  2d.  Betters  from  the  field. 

French  officers  at  the  siege  of  York. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  7,  Oct.,  1881,  page  269.) 

Yorktown   centennial    handbook;    historical    and   topographical 

guide  to   the  Yorktown   peninsula,  Richmond,  James  river  a.nd 
Norfolk. 

New  York:  For  the  author,  by  C.  A.  Coffin  &  Rogers,  1881.     124 pp. 
Illustrations.     Portraits'  Maps.  ,'8°. 

UNITED  STATES.      Yorktown  centennial  commission.    General  programme 

of  ceremonies  at  the  dedication  of  the  Yorktown  monument. 
Washington:  Government  printing  office,  1881.     (3}  pp.     8°. 

—     Official  programme  of  the  Yorktown  centennial  celebra 
tion,  October  18,  19,  20,  21,  1881.     Under  the  joint  resolution  of 
Congress  of  June  7,  1880.     Published  by  authority  of  the  York- 
town  centennial  commission. 
Washington,  D.  C.:  F.  T.  Wilson,  1881.     xiv,  (2),  154,  (1} pp.     8°. 

UNITED  STATES.     Report  of  the  commission  created  in  accordance  with 
a  joint  resolution  of    Congress,   approved  March  3,    1881,  pro 
viding  for  the  erection  of  a  monument  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  com 
memorative  of  the  surrender  of  L,ord  Cornwallis. 
Washington:  Government  printing  office,  1883.     169  pp.     8°. 

Another  issue  of  same  date  has  at  head  of  title:  47th  Congress,  2d  ses 
sion,  Senate.     Report  no.  1003. 

[WASHINGTON,  George.]  Orderly  book  of  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  from 
September  26,  1781,  to  November  2nd,  1781.  (Now  first  printed 
from  the  original  MSS. ) 

Philadelphia:  [Antique press],  1865.     (4],  66  pp.     sq.8°.     (Revolu 
tionary  series,     no.  i. ) 

Washington's  orderly  books.      [Oct.  6,  I78i-Oct.  31,  1781.] 

(In  The  American  historical  record,  vol.  3,  pp.  403-406,457-462,496-498. 
Philadelphia,  1874.    8°.) 

WINTHROP,' Robert  C[harles].     Oration  on  the  hundredth  anniversary  of 
the   surrender  of    Lord   Cornwallis   to   the   combined   forces  of 
America  and  France  at  Yorktown,  Virginia,  19  October,  1781:  de 
livered  at  Yorktown,  19  October,  1881. 
Boston:  Little,  Brown  &  co.,  1881.     (4],  73 pp.     8°. 


List  of  Works  Relating  to  French  Alliance     645 

The  YORKTOWN  centennial.     Acts  of  legislatures  and  societies,  with  regard 
to  the  October  celebration. 

(In  Magazine  of  American  history,  vol.  7,  Oct.,  1881,  pp.  308-314.) 

YORKTOWNV  CENTENNIAL,  ASSOCIATION.  The  centennial  anniversary  of 
the  surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis  and  the  British  forces  under  his 
command  on  the  igth  day  of  October,  1781,  virtually  the  closing 
of  the  struggle  for  American  independence,  to  be  appropriately 
celebrated  on  the  field  of  Yorktown,  Va.,  in  October,  iSSi. 
{New,  York:  American  banknote  co.,  1880.  10  pp.  8° .  (  With  Dit 
Hamel,  W.  J.  C.  An  address  read  before  the  Maryland  his 
torical  society  on  the  centennial  of  the  siege  of  Yorktown.  New 
York,  1880.} 

The  centennial  anniversary  of  the  surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis 

and  the  British  forces  under  his  command  on  the  igth  day  of 
October,  1781,  virtually  the  closing  of  the  struggle  for  American 
independence,  to  be  appropriately  celebrated  on  the  field  of  York- 
town,  Va.,  in  October,  1881. 
New  York:  American  bank  note  co.,  1880.     // pp.     8°. 


INDEX. 


[Places  —  Events  —  Subjects  —  Persons  in  authority. 

Acknowledgments:  535. 
Addresses  (unveiling):  , 

Invocation  (Doctor  Stafford):  87. 

The  President:  88. 

Ambassador  Cambon:  (French)  90,  (English)  92. 

Ambassador  Porter:  *94v 

Senator  Lodge  (oration):  96. 

General  Brugere:  (French)  103,  (English)  105. 

Benediction  (  Bishop  Satterlee  ):  107. 
After  return  of  veterans  to  France:  512. 
After  Yorktown   (Williamsburg,   Boston,  Annapolis,  Wilmington,    1781- 

1783):  469-510- 

Agenois,  Regiment  de:  230,  256,  577-579.     (See  also  Services,  Events.) 
Aiguesparsse,  M.     (See  Key  to  group,  165;  Rochambeau  mission  events.  ) 
Alabama,  battle  ship:  49,  66,  132-140. 
Alliance,  French,  anniversary:  253,  254. 
Alliance,  French,  capitulations  of:  226. 
Alliance,  French,  in  coin:  509-510. 
Alliance,  French,  flag  of  the:  77. 
Alliance,  French,  in  material  of  war:  506-508. 
Alliance,  French,  terms  of:  228. 
Alliance,  FYench,  works  relating  to:  607. 
Alliance,  L'Francaise  de  Brooklyn:  119. 
Allied  army  at  Yorktown,  Va.:  434,  438. 
Allied  armies,  strength  of:  411. 
Allies,  courtesies  to:  403. 
America,  orders  for:  282. 
American  forces,  disposition  of,  1780:  271. 
American  forces,  disposition  of,  after  Yorktown:  473. 
American  lines  at  Yorktown,  Va.:  444. 
American  scout  ships:  330. 

American  troops,  disposition  of,  after  Yorktown:  473. 
Andre,  capture  of:  349. 
Andromaque,  narrow  escape  of:  475. 
Angely,  Baron  de,  against  Huntington  Bay:  407. 
Annapolis:  426. 

Annapolis,  naval  fete  at:  65,  66. 
Annapolis,  naval  vessels  at:  53. 

647 


648  Index 

Annapolis,  United  States  Naval  Academy:  53. 

Appropriations:  19,  24,  28. 

Appropriations,  room  of  House  Committee  on,  visited:  114. 

Arlington  National  Cemetery,  visited:  131. 

Arms,  a  feat  of:  459. 

Arms  of  De  Rochambeau :  13. 

Army,  allied,  before  Yorktown:  434-438. 

Army,  American,  before  Yorktown:  434-436,  437. 

Army,  British: 

In  America:  286. 

At  Yorktown:  442. 

Army,  French,  before  Yorktown:  436-437? 

Army,  land,  of  D'Estaing:  585-588.     (See  also  Services,  Events.) 
Army  of  Rochambeau,  regiments  of:  565-588. 
Army  of  Rochambeau  sails  from  France:  276. 
Army  of  Saint  Simon  (De  Grasse's  fleet):  577. 
Army,  Virginia  militia  before  Yorktown:  438. 
Army  formations  (Yorktown):  434. 
Army,  French: 

In  America:  262,  277^278,  366,  421,  436. 

Before  Yorktown:  438. 

Leaves  Baltimore  for  the  Hudson:  487. 
Army,  French,  effectives  September,  1782:  489. 
Army,  French,  return  of,  to  France:  514. 
Arnold,  Benedict:  288,  342,  346,  351,  363. 
Arrangements,  order  of,  at  unveiling:  80. 
Artillery  Company,  Newport:  179. 
Artillery  (French):  277,  307,  436,  437. 
Artillery  Corps  :  253. 
Assembly  of  troops:  78. 
Assembly,  Rhode  Island:  306. 
Authorities:  5,  6. 
Authority  to  print:  2. 
Auxiliary  operations:  265. 

Auxonne,  Regiment  d':  574-575.      (See  also  Military  events.) 
Baffling  winds:  280. 
Balch,  Thomas:  6. 
Baltimore: 

French  in  camp  at:  485. 

March  for  the  Hudson:  487. 
Band,  French,  marine  concert,  Boston:  204. 
Band  of  the  Gaulois:  73,  102. 
Banquet,  French  embassy:  72. 
Banquet,  Rochambeau  day  at  Paris:  125. 
Barras  de:  261,  375  (in   command),  378,  379  (reports),  386,  405,407,414, 

415,  417  (to  join  De  Grasse),  427,  428,  429,  441  (fleet). 
Bates,  Lieutenant-Governor,  address,  "The  Commonwealth":  206. 
Battle  order  of  Yorktown:  433. 
Benediction:  107. 
Berthelot,  Major:  54.     (See  Key  to  group;  Rochambeau  Mission  events.) 


Index  649 

Bibliography:  607. 

Billy,  Robert  de:  43.     (See  Key  to  group;  Rochambeau  Mission  events.) 

Bingham,  Col.  Theodore  A.:  9,  25,  26,  27,  29,  53,  55,  61.  (See  Key  to 
group;  Rochambeau  Mission  events,  217.) 

Bliss,  Cornelius  N.,  entertains  at  the  Union  League:  46. 

Boeuve,  Jules:  15,  16,  19,  20,  27,  28,  43,  50.  (See  Key  to  group;  Rocham 
beau  Mission  events. ) 

Book  plate  of  De  Rochambeau:  13. 

Boston : 

French  army  marches  to:  490. 
French  army  arrives  at:  494. 
French  fleet  arrives  at:  487. 
Rochambeau  Mission  arrives  at:  189. 

Boston's  greeting:  189, 

Boston's  hospitality:   193. 

Boston's  reception  to  the  ladies:  190,  216. 

Bourbonnais,  Regiment  de:  277,  280,  307,  394,  565-568.  (See  also  Military 
events. ) 

Bourgogne,  La:  50. 

Boyle,  P.  J.:  :8o,  184. 

Breakfast  to  the  President  on  board  Le  (laulois:  67. 

Breda,  M.  de,  Ensign.     (See  Key  to  group.) 

Brest:  275,  276,  285. 

British  army  in  Yorktown,  Va. :  442. 

British  blockade  Narragansett  Bay:  319. 

British  counter  projects:  315. 

British  defenses  at  Newport,  R.  I. :  244. 

British  defenses  at  Yorktown:  442. 

British  designs:  490. 

British  diversion  southward:  353. 

British  embark  to  attack  Newport:  324. 

British  fall  back:  445. 

British  fleet  off  the  capes  of  the  Chesapeake:  475. 

British  ground  arms  and  give  up  standards:  455. 

British  naval  forces  and  defeat:  427-428. 

British  occupation  of  Rhode  Island:  242. 

British  recruits:  411. 

British  squadron:  362. 

British  strength:  271. 

British  works  at  Yorktown,  investment  of:  439. 

Brugere,  Gen.  H.  J.:  26,  54,  55,  59,  62,  63,  65,  66,  69,  70  (see  Key  to  group; 
Rochambeau  Mission  events),  103  (address  at  unveiling — 
French,  105;  English,  no),  113,  114,  115,  144-147,  176,  180,  185, 
186,  187,  199,  211,  220,  223  (to  the  President). 

Brugere  to  Varnum:  177. 

Testimonial  to  the  Cincinnati. 

Bruwaert,  M.:  43. 

Byron,  Admiral:  240. 

Cadet  Review:  143. 

Cadillac,  Chevalier  de  (painting):  120. 


650  Index 

Cambon,  M.  Jules  (Ambassador):  15,  20^  26,  50,  56  (see  Key  to  group),  66, 
67,  68,  70,  90  (address  at  unveiling,  French  and  English),  90, 
92,  80,  148,  149,  167,  174,  206,  208.  (See  Rochambeau  Mission 
events. ) 

Cambon,  Mme.:  56,  62,  135,  163,  20.  (See  Key  to  group;  Rochambeau 
Mission  events. ) 

Campaign  considerations:  483. 

Campaign  plans:  335. 

Campaign,  spring,  proposed:  476. 

Camps  of  French  army,  Williamsburg  to  Baltimore:  484. 

Cannon  for  Rochambeau  and  De  Grasse:  464. 

Cannon,  Joseph  G.:  15,  28,  114. 

Capitol,  at  the:  113. 

Capitulations,  international  (alliance):  226. 

Capitulations  of  surrender  signed:  453. 

Cardinal  Gibbons:  87. 

Carow,  Miss:  62. 

Cash  for  Congress:  278. 

Cash,  French:  419,  375. 

Cash,  more  for  campaign:  413. 

Cash  and  news  from  France:  478. 

Cavalry,  Second  U.  S. :  60. 

Century  after:  531. 

Ceremony,  calls  of:  190. 

Ceremonies,  order  of:  25. 

Chalendar,  Gen.  Ferdinand  Comte  de:  54.  (See  Key  to  group;  Rocham 
beau  Mission  events.) 

Chamber  of  commerce,  French,  greeting  of:  162. 

Chambrun,  Countess  de:  43. 

Chambrun,  Vicomte  de:  136,163.      (See  Rochambeau  Mission  events. ) 

Charlotte  Court  House,  Va. :  478. 

Chastellux,  Chevalier  de:  384,  485  (in  command),  493,  495,  498,  499,  ^16, 
(See  Military  events.) 

Chateau  Rochambeau:  521. 

Chesapeake,  naval  battle  of:  427. 

Chesapeake,  Destouches  off  for:  365. 

Chester,  Pa.     Washington  hears  of  De  Grasse's  arrival:  422. 

Chimere  conveys  Gerard  to  Philadelphia:  234. 

China  service  used  on  Le  Gaulois:  67. 

Choisy,' General -de:  415,  449,  478.      (See  Military  events.) 

Chouin,  Major:  238. 

Church,  commemorative  services:  129. 

Cincinnati,  banner  of:  188. 

Cincinnati  in  France:  515. 

Cincinnati,  French  Society  of:  589-605. 

Cincinnati,  M.  Loubet  elected:  177. 
Letter:  177. 

Cincinnati,  Military  Order  of,  present  at  unveiling  ceremonies:  84. 

Cincinnati,  Society  of,  entertains:  152. 


Index  651 

Cincinnati,  testimonial  to,  by  French  Government:  177. 

Circle  Francais  d' Alliance:  216. 

Circle  Litteraire  Franco- American :  119. 

Claremont,  breakfast  at  the:  159. 

Clinton,  General  (British):  234,  251,  264,  315,  409,  420,  473. 

Cockade,  black  and  white:  313. 

Cockran,  Bourke,  France  and  Ireland:  175. 

Coin,  alliance  in:  509-510. 

College  Landing,  Va. :  429. 

Collins,  Mayor,  of  Boston:  194,  206  (the  Municipality),  214. 

Collins,  Mrs.  Patrick:  198. 

Colonial  Dames  of  America,  wreath  from:  108. 

Columbia  University,  visited:  158. 

Column  in  parade,  The:  109. 

Commemorative  church  services:  129. 

Commemoration,  impressive:  75. 

Commission,  Rochambeau  monument:  9,  23,  24,  25,  26,  29.     (See  Key  to 

group;  Rochambeau  Mission  events. ) 
Committees  on  the  Library:  10,  21. 
Committees  on  Printing:  10. 

Communications  exchanged  with  D'Estaing:  238. 
Concert,  French,  Marine  Band:  204. 

Conference  between  Washington  and  Rochambeau:  336. 
Congratulations  over  Yorktown:  460. 
Congress  aroused:  267. 
Congress,  by  authority  of:  9,  28. 
Congress  informed:  234. 

Congress  informed  of  Rochambeau's  arrival:  293. 
Congress,  joint  resolution:  31. 
Congress  presents  a  frigate:  495. 
Congress  reviews  the  French:  422. 
Congress  to  Rochambeau  and  Destouches:  369. 
Congress  soothes  disappointment:  253. 
Congress,  thanks  of,  for  Yorktown:  463. 
Congress,  thanks  and  farewell:  497. 
Congressional  commission:  21,  29. 
Contents:  3. 

Contract  for  the  statue:  19. 
Contracts  and  convention:  226. 
Continentals  (Minute  Men):  in. 
Conventions  and  contracts:  226. 
Coolidge,  Thomas  Jefferson  "  Diplomacy:"  209. 

Cornwallis,  Lord:  50,  357,  387,  405,  409,  410,  411,  424.  426,  428,  442,  447- 
462  (siege  and  surrender  of  Yorktown),  459,  531  (century  after). 
Corny,  M.  Louis  Ethis  de:  290. 
Correspondence : 

Breezy:  332. 

International:  31. 

Telltale:  383. 


652  Index 


Countess  and  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution:  45. 

Courrier  des  Etats  Unis:  118. 

Courier  des  Etats  Unis,  Rochambeau  festivities:  537  (in  French). 

Cove  Point:  50. 

Crane,  Governor  Winthrop  Murray:  193. 

Croiset  M.   (See  Key  to  group) :  43,  202,  213,  224.    (See  Rochambeau  Mission 

events. ) 

Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution:  45,  107,  190. 
Dauphin  of  France  honored:  481. 
Deane,  Silas:  231,  232,  234. 
Declaration  of  Independence  celebrated:  400. 
Decorations  for  the  President's  commission:  217. 
Defensive  measures:  323. 
Delaware  Bay:  234. 
Delaware  Capes,  off:  234. 
Delaware,  pointed  for  the:  233. 
Desperate  alternative:  334. 
Destouches:  261,  356  (in  command),  362,  363,   365  (off  for  Chesapeake), 

368  ( victory ) ,  369-370. 

Dewey,  Admiral,  60.      (See  Rochambeau  Mission  events. ) 
"  Diamond,  "  on  the:  199. 

Dillon,  Regiment  de:  230,255,287.      (See  also  Military  events. ) 
Dimmick,  Col.E.  J.:  109. 

Dingley,  chairman  of  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means,  greets:  114. 
Dinner  of  State:  62. 
Dispatches: 

For  France:  355. 
From  France:  363. 
Dodd's  Ferry:  409,  415. 

Dolphin,  U.S. .dispatch  boat:  54,66,  140,  144,  145. 
Donoil:  6. 
Duel  at  sea:  247. 
Dumas:  521. 

Eliot,  president:  200,  210. 
Elys£e,  Palace  of  the,  china  from:  67. 
Emaraud:  500. 

Embarkation  of  the  French:  276. 
Embassy,  French:  61,  117. 
Engineer's  French:  307. 
England:  227. 
England  alarmed:  289. 

England,  how  Yorktown's  surrender  received:  468. 
English  naval  force  strengthened :  240. 
Escape,  a  timely:  251. 
Estaing,  Comte  d':  233,  239,  243,  259,  267,  516,  519.      (See  also  Military 

events. ) 

Estaing,  d',  (land)  army  of.     (See  also  Military  events:  585-588.) 
Estaing,  d',  expedition:  225-259. 
Estaing,  d',  expedition  of:  229. 


Index  653 

Estaing,  d',  greetings  from  Washington:  237. 

Estaing,  d',  informs  Congress  and  Washington:  234. 

Estaing's,  d',  fleet  lands  troops:  230, 

Estaing,  d',  off  Newport:  243. 

Estaing,  d',  sails  for  Boston:  250. 

Estaing,  d',  ready  to  march  overland:  251,  252. 

Estaing,  d',  sails  to  Rhode  Island:  240. 

Estaing,  d',  sails  for  West  Indies:  253. 

Estaing,  d',  against  Savannah :  255,  256,  258  (end  of  command  first  French 

expedition  to  America),  258. 
Estaing,  d',  sketch:  235. 
Estaing,  d',  to  Washington :  235. 
Estaing,  d',  willing,  officers  not:  249. 
European  politics:  517. 
Events  of  the  day: 

MAY  17,  1902,  Saturday — 

Arrival  of  civil  guests  at  New  York:  42. 
MAY  19,  Monday — 

Countess  de  Rochambeau  and   the  Daughters  of   the  American 

Revolution:  43. 

A  festive  alliance  at  the  Union  League:  44. 
MAY  20,  Tuesday — 
Salut!  Le  Gaulois. 
The  guests  at  Washington :  48. 
MAY  21,  Wednesday — 

Le  Gaulois  at  Annapolis. 

Naval  honors. 

President's  commission  welcome  the  French  Mission. 

Authorities   of    the    United    States    Naval    Academy   tender   the 

courtesies  of  the  station  in  behalf  of  the  United  States  Navy. 
Deputation  from  the  French  Embassy  extend  cordial  greetings  to 

their  countrymen :  52. 
MAY  22,  Thursday — 

Arrival  of  the  French  Mission  at  Washington. 
Reception  by  the  President  of  the  United  States. 
Ceremonial  calls.    . 
Visit  to  the  tomb  of  Washington. 
State  dinner  at  White  House:  58. 
MAY  23,  Wednesday — 
Roosevelt-Loubet. 
The  President  on  Le  Gaulois. 
Returns  to  Washington. 
Dinner  at  the  French  Embassy:  64. 
MAY  24,  Saturday — : 

The  statue  of  Rochambeau  unveiled. 

Review  of  the  "allied  "  forces  of  the  United  States  and  France. 
Visit  of  compliment  to  the  Capitol,  Library  of  Congress. 
Reception  at  the  French  Embassy:  74. 
MAY  25,  Sunday — 

A  mass  in  commemoration. 


654  Index 

Events  of  the  day — Continued. 
MAY  25,  Sunday — Continued. 

At  the  graves  of  heroes. 

On  a  tour  of  observation. 

Le  Gaulois  en  voyage:  128. 
MAY  26,  Monday — 

Niagara  Falls. 

Le  Gaulois  at  New  York:  138. 
MAY  27,  Tuesday — 

Military  honors  and  cadet  review. 

Metropolitan  municipal  felicitations. 

Empire  State  guard  on  dress  parade. 

Society  of  the  Cincinnati.     (See  Members  Rochambeau:  142.) 
MAY  28,  Wednesday- 
Visit  to  tomb  of  Grant. 

A  Municipal  "  De  jeuner." 

French  chamber  of  commerce  banquet. 

Le  Gaulois  leaves  for  Boston  :  156. 
MAY  29,  Thursday — 

At  "Ophir  Hill." 

Friendly  Sons  bf  St.  Patrick  hosts. 

Le  Gaulois  for  Boston  :  170. 
MAY  30,  Friday — 

Memorial  honors  to  the  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  alliance. 

1741 — Newport  artillery  company — 1902. 

Decoration  of  the  grave  of  De  Ternay. 

Social  festivities. 

I/unch  at  the  Casino. 

Arrival  at  Boston  :  178. 
MAY  31,  Saturday — 

Bay  State  and  Bunker  Hill  memories. 

Academic  attentions. 

A  Commonwealth  lunch  and  municipal  dinner. 

Post  prandial  honors  :  192. 
JUNE  i,  Sunday — 

Sans  adieu-au  revoir. 

Partant  Pour  La  France  :  218. 
Events,  schedule  of:  41. 
Executive  committee  :  9,  26. 
Exercises,  order  of,  at  unveiling  :  86. 

Faramorid,  Lieutenant  Comte  de  :  54.     (See  Rochambeau  Mission  events. ) 
Farewells :  493,  495,  496. 
Fears,  fallacy  of :  333. 
Festive  alliance  at  the  Union  League  :  46. 
Fete  day  in  camp  :  490. 
Figaro  Le  Supplement  Exceptionnel :   123. 
Figaro  " Special' ':  121. 

Fillonneau,    Ettienne:    55.     (See   Key   to   group;    Rochambeau   Mission 
events. ) 


Index  655 


Fire  rafts:  446. 

Fitzgerald,  Justice,  on  Washington  and  Rochambeau:  179. 

Flag  decoration:  76. 

Flag,  French,  of  the  Alliance:  77. 

Flag  of  the  French  Republic:  78. 

Flag  of  De  Rochambeau:  77. 

Fleet,  characteristics  of:  231. 

Fleet  of  D'Estaing,  vessels  and  equipment:  230. 

Fleet  of  De  Grasse:  440,  441. 

Fleet,  French,  first:  229. 

Fleet,  French  (De  Ternay): 

Sails  for  America:  276,  277. 

List  of  vessels,  guns,  men,  and  commanders:  277. 

Personnel:  279,  280. 

De  Grasse:  440. 

De  Barras:  441. 

Fleury,  Lieutenant-Colonel:  239. 
Flury  between  the  chiefs:  371. 

Foix,  Regiment  de:  230,  255,  286.     (See  also  Military  events.) 
Foreign  guests,  entertainment  of:  9. 
Fornes,  president  of  board  of  aldermen  welcome:  147. 
Fort  Warren:  191. 
Foss,  Representative:  66. 

Fournier,  Admiral:  180.      (Sec  Key  to  group;  Rochambeau  Mission  events. ) 
Fournier,  Vice-Admiral :  49,  54,  55,  59,  62,  66,  69,  176,  212,  220.     (See  Key 

to  group;  Rochambeau  Mission  events.) 
France:  24,  31,  465. 
France  aid  of  the  States:  u,  12,  13. 
France  and  the  States:  522. 
France,  cash  and  news  from:  478. 
France  in  the  war  of  American  Independence:  227. 
Franco- American  Literary  Society  received:  119. 
Franco-American  press,  Rochambeau  festivities  (Courier  des  Etats-Unis): 

537- 

Franklin:  263,  359,  375,  480,  516  (brings  a  letter). 
French  advance:  478. 

French  aid  to  the  States,  recapitulation:  505-510. 
French  alliance.     (See  Alliance,  French.) 
French  alliance  of  Brooklyn:  119. 
French  alliance,  Military  Order  of:  ii9.% 
French  ambassador:  26. 
French  army  and  navy  in  America  (De  Rochambeau,  De  Ternay,  Des- 

touches,  Barras):  261-359. 

French  and  American  soldiers  in  parade  at  Washington:  75. 
French  (auxiliary)  army:  217,  306. 

How  received  when  landed:  307. 

Organization:  355. 

Winter  quarters:  389,  340,  341. 

Leaves  Newport:  391. 


656  Index 

French  (auxiliary)  army — Continued. 

Marching  orders:  393. 

In  motion:  394. 

Crosses  the  Hudson:  417. 

March  to  Yorktown :  418. 

Camps:  484. 

Departs:  496,  504. 

Yorktown  column:  531. 
French  army  marches  to  Boston :  490. 
French  army  march  to  the  Hudson:  487. 
French  army  and  navy  in  America:  262. 
French  band:  26,  93. 
French  battalion:  79. 

French  division,  second  blockade:  337,  358. 
French  embassy:  72. 

Banquet:  72. 

Reception:   117. 

French  flag  of  the  Alliance:  77. 
French  fleet,  first:  229. 
French  Fusilier  Marines:  79. 
French  Government  accepts:  24. 
French  honors  for  Washington.  364. 
French  impress:  505. 
French  lines:  444. 
French  mission,  honors  to:  41. 
French  open  at  Newport:  245. 

French  regimental  organizations  in  United  States:  565-588. 
French  seamen:  26. 

French  Society  of  Rochambeau  of  New  York:  46. 
French  visitors:  46. 

Frenchmen  honored  for  service  in  America:.  482. 
Friendly  Sons  of  Saint  Patrick,  banquet  Rochambeau  Mission:  172. 
Frogs  neck:  408. 

Frye,  W.  P.,  President  pro  tempo  re:  29,  115. 
Galvan,  M.  de:  270. 
Gardiner,  Asa  Bird:  180. 
Gardiners  Bay:  248,  362. 
Gatenais.     (See  Gatinais. ) 
Gatinais'  Regiment  de  (Royal  Auvergne):  230,  256,  258,  579-582.     (See 

also  Military  events.) 
Gatinais  honors  for:  450. 
Gaulois,  Le:  49,  50,  53,  54,  59,  65,  66,  67,  132,  140,  161,  190,  191,  219,  222 

(departs). 

Gazette,  Rivington's  Royal:  239. 
German  mercenaries:  456. 
Gibbons,  Cardinal:  26,  130. 
Give  them  the  bayonet:  433. 
Gleaves,  Capt.  Albert:  54. 
Gloucester,  U.  S.  S.:  65. 


Index  657 

Gloucester:  424,  439,  412,  443,  445. 

Gourd,  M.  Henry  E.,  French  chamber  of  commerce:  165. 

Government  of  France,  invited:  24. 

Grand  Army  of  the  Republic:  185. 

Grant,  tomb  of,  visited:  158. 

Grasse,  de,  Admiral:  50,  266,  370,  387,  392,  403. 

Sails:  404,  412,  414,  422,  423. 

Arrives:  424,  425,428,  430. 

Conference:  431,432,440. 

Fleet:  445. 

Blockades:  446,  447-462. 

Siege  of  Yorktown:  464,  469-471,  472,  473,  474,  475,  476,  517. 

Death:  531. 
Graves,  Admiral:  50. 
Great  Britain  yielding:  485. 
Greene,  Gen.  Nathaniel:  244,  252. 
Greene's  victory  at  Eutaw  Springs:  446. 
Griffin,  A.  P.  C. :  607. 

Guests,  for  names  of,  see  Events  by  name. 
Guests,  civil,  arrival  of  the,  42. 
Guests.     ( Complete  lists  will  be  found  under  the  name  of  the  Event,  the 

Occasion,  or  other  characterizing  feature.) 
Guests,  foreign  entertainment  of:  9. 
Guests,  official,  on  to  Washington:  50. 
Guests  of  the  Nation  on  tour:  135-136. 
Guichen,  Washington  to:  341. 
Guillemin,  M.    Jean:    43.     (See    Key   to   group;    Rochambeau    Mission 

events. ) 

Guillemot,  major  of:  126. 
Halifax  expedition  proposed:  255. 

Hainault,  d',  Regiment:  230,  255,  258,  585-586.     (See also  Military  events.) 
Hamar,  Fernand:  16,  20,  26,  39,  43,  90.     (See  Unveiling.) 
Hamar,  Pere  M. :  43. 

Hamilton,  I/ieutenant-Colonel:  239.     (See  Military  events.) 
Hancock,  John,  Governor:  244,  494. 
Hansbrough,  Henry  C.:  10. 
"Happy  stroke,"  aiming  at  a:  353. 
Hartford,  Conn.,  conference:  344. 
Hartford,  Conn.:  491. 
Harries,  Brig.  Gen.  G.  H.:  no. 
Harvard,  Mass.,  salutations:  200. 
Harvard  University,  ladies  at  tea:  204. 
Haverstraw  Bay:  239. 
Hay,  John:  9,  14,  25,  29,  31,  63,  126. 
Head  of  Elk:  425. 

Heath.  General:  290,  291,  293,  319,  331,  337,  353,  415. 
Hemenway,  James  A.:  27. 
Henderson,  D.  B.:  113. 

Hermite,  L,ouis:  54.     (See  Key  to  group;  Rochambeau  Mission  events. ) 
S.  Doc.  537,  59-1 42 


658  Index 

Hermite,  Lieutenant-Colonel.     (See  Key  to  group;  Rochambeau  Mission 

events. ) 

Hessians:  413,  456.     (See  Military  events.) 
Hibbard,  Postmaster,  Boston,  "  France  in  America ":  207. 
Higginson,  Rear- Admiral :  49,  221. 
Hitt,  Robert  R. :  23. 
Hodson,  Florence:  185. 
Holy  Cross  Cathedral:  219. 
Homes  versus  Billets:  354-355. 
Honors  parting:  491. 
Howe  had  gone:  234. 
Howe,  Admiral,  at  New  York:  239. 
Howe,  Lord  Viscount  Richard:  245,  246. 
Howe  on  the  back  tack:  248. 
Hudson,  a  reconnaissance  on:  406. 
Huntingdon  Bay,  enterprise:  407. 
Hyeres  Islands,  France:  231. 
Impressive  commemoration:  75. 
Incidents  of  Yorktown:  462. 
Independence,  War  of  American:  227. 
Indiana,  battle  ship:  54. 
Indians,  Iroquois:  339-340. 
In  search  of  a  phantom:  328. 
Instructions:  268,  376. 
International  capitulations:  226. 
International  correspondence:  31. 
International  felicitations:  67. 
Introduction:  n. 
Invitations:  9,  24,  25,  81. 
Invited:  23. 
Invocation:  87. 

Ireland,  Archbishop,  address:  174. 

Irish- American  Historical  Society  of  New  York  and  New  England:  119. 
Irish-American  Historical  Society:  81,  82. 
Itinerary  of  Rochambeau  Mission:  135-224. 
James  River:  424-425. 

Jay,  Gustave  Le:  55,  63.     (See  Rochambeau  Mission  events.) 
Johnson,  Rear- Admiral:    190. 
Journalism,  sensational:  308. 
Junction  arranged:  385. 
Jusserand,  M.:  7,  527,  535. 
Karren,  M.  Leon:  205. 

Kearsarge,  U.  S.  battle  ship:  49,  54,  66,  132,  140^190,  191,  222. 
Keim,  De  B.  Randolph:  227. 
Kimball,  C.  D.:  180. 
Kings  Bridge:  408. 
Knox,  General:  253. 
Ladies  entertained:  198. 


Index  659 

Ladies  welcome:  190. 
Lafayette,  Count  de:  45. 

Family  invited:  24. 

M.  Gaston,  de  Sahune  de:  32,  33,  43.     (See  Key  to  group;  Rocham- 
beau  Mission  events.) 

Guest  of  nation:  41. 

Marquis  de:  244,  250,  251,  263,  264,  265,  166,  267,  268,  270,  271,  287, 
288,  308,  323,  328,  334,  364,  370,389,  401,  402,  405,  409,  410,  411, 
412,  421,  425,  426,  427,  431,  434,  472,  473,  474. 
Lafayette,  Marquis  de:  15,  114.     (See  Rochambeau  Mission  events.) 

Monument:  20. 

Painting:  121. 

Lagrave,  M.:  43.     (See  Key  to  group;  Rochambeau  Mission  events.) 
Land  and  sea  power  of  France  in  America:  507-508. 
Landis,  Charles  B.:   10. 
Languedoc,  Le:  50,  232,  246,  247. 

Lasson,  Captain:  55.     (See  Key  to  group;  Rochambeau  Mission  events. ) 
Laurens,  Col.  John:  359,419. 
Lauzun,  de,  Duke:  277,  307,  396,  399,  408,  439,  478,  496. 

Tn  command:  504. 

Departs:  576. 

(See  Military  events. ) 
Lauzun's  Hussars:  396,  399. 

Lauzun,  Legion  de:  277,  307,  408,  439,  478,  576.     (See  Military  events.) 
Legislation,  a  romance  in:  15. 
Letter  of  invitation  to  President  Loubet:  31,  32. 
Library  Committees:  10,  25,  29. 
Library  of  Congress  visited:  116. 
Lincoln,  General:  255,  256,  399,  418. 

Lincoln,  W.  H.,  "The  White  Wings  of  Commerce:"  212. 
Line  of  march  French  army:  394-401. 
Lodge,  Senator  H.  C. :  26,  29,  96. 
Loeb,  William,  jr.     (See  President.) 

Loubet,  M.  Emile,  President  of  France,  letter  in  reply  to  Theodore  Roose 
velt,  President  of  the  United  States:  32,  33. 

Loubet,  President,  parting  words  to  the  Rochambeau  Mission :  56. 
Loubet,  M.,  President  of  France:  33,  56,  63,  177,  178,  188. 
Louis  XVI:  u,  264,  279. 
Low, 'mayor  of  New  York  City:  147,  148. 
Luzerene,  De  La:  270,  288,  338,  351,  384,  464  (guest),  479  (of  Washington), 

480. 

Lynn  Haven  Bay:  445. 

McCleary,  James  T. :  6,  9,  10,  14,  16,  20,  21,  25,  29,  84,  113,  114,  115,  116. 
March  of  history:  429. 
March  to  Yorktown:  418-429. 
Margerie,  Pierre  de:  54. 

Margerie,  Madam  de.     (See  Key  to  group;  Rochambeau  Mission  events. ) 
Marine  Band,  United  States:  26,  96,  107. 


66o  Index 

Marines,  United  States:  26,  66.    - 

Martin,  Mrs.  Alexander:  216. 

Maryland  grants  privilege  of  transit  of  foreign  troops:  79. 

Meaux   Saint  Marc,   Lieutenant-Colonel:  54,  221.     (See  Key    to  group; 

-    Rochambeau  Mission  events.) 
Mercury  (Paris)  prints  the  news:  466. 
Members  of  the  Rochambeau  Mission,  facing:  59. 
Metz,  Regiment  de  (artillery):  575-576.     (See  also  Military  events.) 
Middlebrook,  N.  J.:  253. 
Midshipmen,  United  States:  59. 
Miles,  Nelson  A. ,  Lieut.  Gen. :  60. 
Military  events.     (See  by  name. ) 
Militia,  D.  C.:  26. 

Militia  of  Rhode  Island,  Massachusetts,  and  Connecticut  rally:  244. 
Militia  honors  for:  329. 

Minister,  first  French  to  the  United  States:  231. 
Minute  Men  (Continental):  in. 
Mirabeau  considerations,  Cincinnati:  602. 
Mission.     (See  Rochambeau  Mission  and  Events.) 
Mission,  French.     (See  Rochambeau  Mission.) 
Mission,  members  of  the  Rochambeau.     (See  Key  to  illustrations.) 
Mission,  Rochambeau:  59,  60,  61,  62,  63,  82,  113.     (See  Events  of  the  day.) 
Montbarrey,  Prince  de:  274,  297. 
Monument  commission:  9. 
Monument  described:  37. 

Monument  to  Comte  de  Rochambeau  unveiled:  75. 
Monument  to  Yorktown:  464. 

Morgan,  Edwin:  9,50.    '(See  Key  to  group;  Rochambeau  Mission  events.) 
Morris,  Robert:  413. 
Mount  Vernon:  62,  425. 
Munster,  Comte  de:  231. 
Music  in  commemoration:  129. 
Musical  numbers  unveiling: 

Le  Marseillaise  (United  States  Marine  Band):  89. 
(Pulling  the  cord.) 

Les  Chasseresses  (The  Huntresses) ,  Delibes  (French  Marine  Band) :  93. 

Hail  to  the  Spirit  of  Liberty  (United  States  Marine  Band):  96. 

Star  Spangled  Banner  (French  Marine  Band):   102 

America  (United  States  Marine  Band):  107. 

Lieut.  W.  H.  Santelman,  United  States  Marine  Band,  leader, 

M.  Leon  Karren,  French  Marine  Band,  leader. 
Narragansett  channel  forced  by  French:  252. 
Narragansett  waters:  285. 

National  Association  of  Frenchmen  of  Philadelphia:  119. 
National  Guard,  District  of  Columbia:  108. 
National  Guard  of  Maryland:  66. 
National  Guard  of  New  York  City  in  review:  151. 
National  Lancers  of  Boston:  193,  199. 


Index  66 1 

Naval  Academy,  United  States:  53. 
Naval  aid  of  the  States:  441. 
Naval  cadets:  66. 

Courtesies  off  Boston:  190. 
Courtesies  off  the  Virginia  capes:  49. 
Naval  fete:  65. 

Naval  power  of  the  States:  241. 
Navy,  French,  in  America:  262. 
Navy,  Secretary  of  the:  69. 

Nelson,  Maj.  Gen.  Thomas:  438.     (See  York  town  events:  531.) 
Newport,  a  day  of  memories:  179,  188  (Review). 
Newport  Artillery  Company:  179. 

Newport,  sea  battle  of:  246.  /  ,: 

Newport  to  Yorktown,  victorious  operations  of  the  allied  armies,  1781: 

361-468. 
Newport:  283,  292,  300,  302,  308  (French  headquarters),  314,  319,  334,  351, 

354,  364  (honors  to  Washington),  365,  367,  388,  391  (farewell), 

493  (French  officers  say  good-bye). 
Newport  abandoned:  264. 
Newport  parade:  184. 
Newport  to  Yorktown:  361. 
Newport,  Va.,  headquarters:  477. 

New  York  City,  welcome  to  Rochambeau  Mission:  144,  150. 
New  York,  a  last  dash  at:  407. 
New  York,  British  concentrating  at:  486. 
New  York  still  the  objective:  385. 
Niagara,  Rochambeau  Mission  at:   139-140. 
Ocean  investment:  440-441. 
Official  character  of  guests  end:  219. 
O'Gorman,  Justice,  presides:  174. 
O'Hara,  General:  455. 

Olympia,  U.  S.  cruiser:  49,  54,  66,  132,  140,  190,  191,  222. 
"Ophir"  Hill  fete  champetre:    171. 
Order  of  arrangements:  80. 
Order  of  ceremonies:  25. 
Order  of  exercises:  86. 
Orders:  232,  233. 
Orders  opened:  232. 
Parallel  first  Yorktown:  447. 
Parallel  second  Yorktown :  449. 
Parker,  Hyde,  Admiral :  240. 
Parley  sounded:  452. 

Parliamentary  phrase,  Rochambeau  in:  16. 
Partant:  135. 

Parting  expressions:  219,  223. 
Patuxent  River:  50. 
Payne,  Sereno  E. :  27. 
Peace:  503. 


662  Index 

Pedestal  commenced:  25. 

Pedestal  elaborated:  21.  „ 

Peirce,  Herbert  H.  D.:  9,  26,  53,  55,  56.     (See  Key  to  group,  59;  Rocham- 

beau  Mission  events.) 

Peirce,  Mrs.  H.  D.     (See  Key  to  group,  Rochambeau  events. } 
Penobscot  expedition:  373,487. 
People  of  France  invited :  24. 
Pey rouse,  M.  de  la:  363. 

Philadelphia  French  troops  reviewed  by  Congress:  422. 
Photographic  remembrance:  131. 
Pigeon  Hill:  444. 
Pigot,  Sir  Robert:  243,  245. 
Pilots,  American:  240. 
Plans  frustrated:  346. 
Pleasant  memories:  514. 
Platt,  Thomas  C. :  10. 
Pluckemin,  Camp:  253. 
Porter,  Horace:  15,  25,  26,  31,  33,  46. 
Powers  and  orders:  233. 
Prefatory:  5. 

Preparations  to  receive  the  French:  290. 
President,  the:  24,  26,  61,  62,  63,  65,  66,  67,  68,  69,  70,  71. 

Letter  to  Loubet:  31. 

Receives  Rochambeau  Mission:  61. 

Gives  state  dinner:  62. 

Departs  for  Annapolis:  65. 

Breakfast  on  Le  Gaulois:  67. 

Returns  to  Washington:  71. 

Greeted  at  unveiling:  82. 

President's  stand:  83. 

Address  of  unveiling:  87,  88. 

Reviews  American  and  French  troops:  108,  109. 

Compliments  French  sailors:  no. 
President  to  Brugere:  223. 
President  pro  tempore:  29,  115. 
President  of  France:  31.     (See  L/oubet.) 
President's  commission:  9,  53. 
President's  commission,  decorations  for:  217. 
President's  stand:  83. 
Print,  authority  to:  2. 
Printing,  Committees  on:  10. 
Prisoners,  disposition  of:  472. 

Proclamation  of  welcome  of  Rochambeau  Mission  in  New  York:  150. 
Promotions  for  service  in  America:  513. 
Providence:  491. 

Providence  honors  Washington:  368. 
Quaker  testimony:  489. 
Ransdell,  Sergeant-at-Arms,  United  States  Senate:   115, 


Index  663 

Rawdon,  Lord,  captured:  428. 

Read  homestead:  179. 

Recapitulation  of   French  succor  of   the   States   in  material  of  war,  sea 
power,  land  forces,  and  coin:  505-510. 

Recapitulation  of  sea  and  land  power  of  France  in  America:  506-508. 

Redouts: 

American:  449-450. 

French  storming  parties:  449-450. 

Reed,  Mrs.  Sylvanus:  45. 

Regiments,  French,  high  character  of:  280. 

Reid,  Whitelaw,  enlistment:  171. 

Reinforcements  for  Greene:  476. 

Reminiscence,  a  family:  223. 

Rendezvous  of  French  ordered:  275. 

Renouard,  M.:  43.     (See  Rochambeau  Mission  events.) 

Resolutions  of  welcome,  aldermen,  New  York  City:  149. 

Review  and  parade,  New  York  City:  150. 

Revolution,  French:  517. 

Reyneval,  M.  Conrad  Alexander  Gerard:  231,  232,  234. 

Reynolds,  J.  B.:  43. 

Rhode  Island:  242,  245,  291,  306,  316,  389,  492. 

Rhode  Island,  French  arrival  off:  284. 

Rochambeau,  de,  arms  and  bookplate:  13. 

Rochambeau,  de,  Comte:  261,  265,  267,  270,  273,  274,  278,  294;  (reports  to 
Washington),  290  (instructions),  298  (secret),  299  (situation), 
302  (man  of  crisis),  308,  310,  311,  317,  318,  321,  328,  335,  336, 
339.  340,  34i,  344,  345,  346,  349~35i  (Arnold  treason),  362,  363, 
366  (army),  369,  371-373,  376  (supplementary  instructions),  377 
(for  minister  of  war),  378  (new  powers),  380-386  (Wethersfield 
conference),  387,  389  (army),  391  (leads),  393,  (marching 
orders),  394  (in  the  van),  400  (march  and  thanks  to),  406,  408, 
411,  414  (loan),  416  (starts  for  Yorktown),  418-429  (to  York- 
town),  422-425,  430,  431,  436  (Yorktown  army),  439,  444,  446, 
447  (opens  the  siege),  462  (siege  of  Yorktown),  457  (his 
account),  464,  477  (remains  in  Virginia),  478,  484  (marches  to 
Baltimore),  485,  487  (march  to  the  Hudson),  487,  490,  491,  492, 
493  (courtesies  to),  493  (leaves  his  army),  494,  497,  498,  (fare 
well),  500,  501  (exciting  chase),  502  (sketch),  513,  515  (in 
England,  at  court),  516,  517,  518,  519  (saves  the  day  at  Quive- 
ran),  520,  521,  528  (death,  tomb,  family),  529  (manuscripts) 
531  (a  century  after). 

Rochambeau,  de: 

Army  of:  565-588. 
Memoires:  6. 

Rochambeau,  de,  Vicomte:  375,  377. 

Rochambeau,  de,  Comte,  monument:  75. 

Rochambeau,  de,  Comte  (on  plans):  24,62.     (See  Key  to  group;  Ro«ham- 
beau  Mission  events. ) 


664  Index 

Rochambeau,  de,  Comte  Ren£:  43,  45,  50,  56,  179,  (Newport),  185.     (See 

Key  to  group;  Rochambeau  Mission  events). 
Rochambeau,  de,  Countess:  43,  45,  46,  50,  56  (see  Key  to  group),  62,  89, 

113,  145,  217,  224  see  Rochambeau  Mission  events). 
Rochambeau,  de,  extra  Figaro:  123. 
Rochambeau,  de,  family,  invited:  24. 
Rochambeau,  de,  flag  of:  77. 
Rochambeau,  de: 

French  Society  of,  New  York:  46. 
Guest  of  Nation:  41. 
Marquis  de:  23,  26. 
Mission  events:  41-224. 
Mission,  members  of  the,  facing:  59.' 
Special,  leaves  Washington:  135. 

Rochambeau  Mission  events:  41-224.     (See  Events  of  the  day.) 
Rodgers,  Raymond  P.:  9,  26,  53,  56,  59.      (See  Key  to  group;  Rochambeau 

Mission  events;  Pres'ident's  commission. ) 

Roe,  Major-General,  commanding,  New  York  National  Guard:  151. 
Roosevelt,  Theodore,  President,  letter  of  invitation  to  Loubet:  31  (English), 

32  ( French).    (See  President  Loubet's  reply:  32;  President,  the. ) 
Roosevelt,  Miss:  62. 
Root,  Elihu:  9,  14,  25,  29. 
Rotunda  of  Capitol  visited:  115. 
Route  of  parade:1 109. 
Royal  (Rivington's)  Gazette:  371-372. 
Royal  Deux  Ponts,  Regiment  de:  27.7,  307,  572-574.     (See  also  Military 

events. ) 

Royal  guides:  277. 
Ruse,  de  Guerre:  231. 
Sail,  ahoy!:  49. 
Sailors,  United  States:  26. 
Saint  Mars,  Pouilloue  de:  55.     (See  Key  to  group;  Rochambeau  Mission 

events. ) 

Saint  Mary's  (R.  C.)  Church:  185. 

Saintonge  Regiment  de:  277,  307,  570-572.     (See  also  Military  events.) 
Saint  Patrick's  (R.  C.)  Church:  129. 
Saint  Simon:  387,  424,  425-426,  427-437  (Yorktown  Army), 447-462  (siege), 

476  (leaves  with  De  Grasse). 
Saint  Simon  army.     (See  De  Grasse's  fleet:  577). 
Salutes  exchanged :  222. 
Sandy  Hook:  240. 
Sappers  and  miners:  277. 

Satterlee,  Right  Rev.  H.  Y.,  Bishop  of  Washington:  26,  107. 
Sauvaire,  Jourdain  Andre:  55.     (See  Key  to  group;  Rochambeau  Mission 

events. ) 

Savannah,  Ga.,  British  take:  253. 
Savannah,  Ga.,  combined  attack  on.  British:  255-257  (assault  abandoned): 

258. 


Index  665 

Schedule  of  events:  41. 

Schoolboy  soldiers  reviewed:  194. 

Scout  ships,  American :  330. 

Sculptor:  39. 

Sculptor's  suggestions:  20. 

Sea  power  of  France  in  America:  441. 

Sea  and  land  power  of  France  in  America:  506,  507-508. 

Seamen,  French,  109. 

Secretary  of  State:  21. 

Secretary  of  War:  21. 

Seigenheimer  aid:  66. 

Senate,  Chamber  visited:  115. 

Sensations  deprecated:  338.  » 

Sermon,  Cardinal  Gibbons:  130. 

Sheldon,  Colonel:  399. 

Ship's  rating  of:  508. 

Sickness  threatens:  47. 

Site  of  monument:  35. 

Site  selected:  25. 

Sixty-ninth  Regiment  escort:  172. 

Soissonnais,  Regiment  de:  277,  307,  568-570.     (See  also  Military  events. ) 

Soldiers,  American  and  French  in  parade:  75. 

Soldiers  of  France  remembered:  514. 

Sons  of  American  Revolution,  welcome:  118. 

Sorties,  Cornwallis  attempts:  451. 

Spain,  proposed  cooperation:  358. 

"  Special"  to  the  Mercury:  466. 

Specialization  of  events:  227. 

Stafford,  Rev.  Dr.  D.  J.:  87,  129.    ' 

Stan  dish,  U.  S.  S.:  59,  65. 

Stands:  80. 

State  dinner:  62. 

States  in  a  pleasing  strain:  518. 

States  favorable  to  France:  483. 

Statuary  Hall  visited:  115. 

Statue:  19,  20,  23,  27,  28. 

Statue  around  the:  76. 

Statue,  bill  for  purchase:  19. 

Statue  commission:  23. 

Statue  of  Comte  de  Rochambeau  unveiled:  75. 

Statue,  contract  for  the:  19. 

Statue,  enlargement:  20. 

Stratten,  Miss:  184. 

Suggestions,  sculptor's:  20. 

Sullivan,  General:  240,  242,  243,  250,  252.     . 

Supplementary  papers:  534. 

Surgy,  Captain  de:  49,  54. 

Surprise  of  the  enemy:  397,  399. 


666  Index 

Surrender;  statistics  of:  456. 

Surrender  scenes:  454. 

Sylph,  U.  S.  S.:  62. 

Tanouarn,  d',  M.  de:  375. 

Tennant,  d',  M.:  519. 

Ternay,  d':  261,  272,  276,  278,  280-281,  286,  308,  310,  318,  321,  329,  342,  352, 
356  (death). 

Ternay,  d',  grave:  185  (memorial  ceremonies),  186  (tablet),  187,  188 
(notice  of  death). 

Tilley,  d',  makes  a  capture:  362. 

Tories,  on  guard  against:  396. 

Tory  croakings:  320. 

Toulon:  231,  234. 

Tour  of  guests  attending  the  unveiling  of  the  Rochambeau  monument: 
134- 

Touraine  Regiment  de:  113,  582-584.     (See  also  Military  events.) 

Treaty  of  alliance:  226. 

Trinity  Church,  Newport:  185. 

Troops,  French,  splendid  conduct  of:  489. 

Troops,  United  States:  108. 

Trophies  of  Yorktown  surrender:  457. 

Uniforms,  French:  421. 

Union  League,  festive  alliance  at:  46. 

United  States  naval  power:  241. 

Unveiling  (pulling  the  cord):  88,  89. 

Unveiling  of  De  Rochambeau  monument:  26,  28,  75. 

Varnum,  J.  H.,  from  Brugere:  177. 

Vaudreuil,  Marquis  de:  486,  487  (arrives  Boston),  490,  496  (French  em 
bark  and  sail). 

Vendome,  mayor  of,  to  Hay:  126. 

Vergennes,  Comte  de:  265,  268,  270,  272,  273. 

Versailles,  impressions  at:  480. 

Vessels,  at  Annapolis:  53. 

Veterans  return  to  France:  512. 

Vignal,  Capt.  Paul:  54.     (See  key  to  group;  Rochambeau  Mission  events. ) 

Vignal,  Madam.     (See  Key  to  group;  Rochambeau  Mission  events.) 

Ville  de  Paris,  La.:  50,  471  (conference). 

Viomenil,  Baron:  278-493  (in  command),  495  (farewell). 

Virginia  militia:  438,  439,  531. 

Virginia  instead  of  New  York:  367. 

Virginia  situation:  401. 

Voyage  of  fleet  of  De  Ternay:  281,  298. 

Wainwright,  Commandant:  66. 

Walsh,  Regiment  de:  588,  230,  256.     (See  also  Military  events.) 

War,  prestige  of:  279. 

War,  Secretary  of:  69. 

Warlike  millennium:  334. 

Warren,  Fort:   191. 

Washington,  civil  guests  arrive  at:  50. 


Index  667 

Washington,  General:  252,  261,  262,  268,  273  (lieutenant-general  of 
France),  279,  286,  287,  288,  293,  308,  310,  313,  318,  322,  324, 
326  (powers  extended  beyond  the  States),  334,  335,  336,  337, 
340,  341,  344,  346,  349-351  (Arnold  treason),  353,  357,  364,  367, 
37I"373>  374, 379 (congratulations to  deBarras), 380, 381  (Wether- 
field  conference),  381-386,  388,  394-400,  402  (to Lafayette),  405, 
406,  407,  408,  466,  418-429  (to  Yorktown),  422  (hilarious),  426, 
430,  431,  434-438,  439,  444,  446,  447-462  (siege  of  Yorktown), 
471,  473,  474,  476  (returns  North),  479  (watching  New  York), 
480  (appreciates),  485,  485  (suspicions),  487,  490,  491,  493  (hos 
pitality),  494  (about  Washington),  495-498  (farewell),  500,  517, 
518,  516,  521,  522-526  (duty  confronts  gratitude),  526  (his 
death;  how  received  in  France). 

Washington,  Mrs.,  entertains  French  officers  at  Mount  Vernon:  484. 

Washington  to  D'Estaing:  239. 

Washington  alone  has  authority  to  command  the  French :  388. 

Washington  elm:  199. 

Washington  informed:  234. 

Washington  prepares  for  D'Estaing:  237. 

Waterbury,  Governor:  399,  408. 

Werth,  Maximillien  de  Reinach  de:  55.  (See  Key  to  group;  Rochambeau 
Mission  events.) 

West  Point,  New  York:  143. 

West  Point,  Continentals  left  at:  415. 

Wethersfield,  Conn.,  conference:  380. 

Wetmore,  George  Peabody,  Senator:  6,  9,  10,  14,  16,  19,  21,  25,  29,  84,  116. 

White  House:  60,  61,  62. 

Willett,  alderman  of  New  York,  welcome:  147. 

Williamsburg:  426,  433,  478,  479,  484  (French  march  north) 

Wilmington,  N.  C.:  474. 

Wittgenstein,  Comte  de:  278. 

Works,  relating  to  the  French  Alliance:  607. 

York,  all  roads  lead  to:  428. 

York  Peninsula:  441. 

York  River:  424. 

Yorktown,  Va.:  u. 

Yorktown,  Va.,  Centennial  column:  531. 

Yorktown:  410,  416  (army  in  motion),  418-429  (march  from  Hudson),  438 
(advance  against),  441  (sea  power),  442  (British  defenses),  447, 
462  (siege),  461  (incidents),  469  (closing  scenes),  531  (century 
after). 

Yorktown  after:  1781-1783,  469-510. 

Yorktown,  siege  of:  447-468. 

Yorktown:  439  (formation),  534-438  (allied  armies  before). 

Young,  Maj.  Gen.  S.  B.  M.,  U.  S.  Army:  26. 

Young,  Maj.  Gen.  S.  B.  M.,  command  parade:  109. 

"  Zoo  "  visited :  132. 


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